Former First Lady of Georgia Sandra Deal has been appointed to the Piedmont College Board of Trustees.
Deal, an education activist and retired language arts teacher, was formally introduced as the newest board member on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
As the wife of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, Sandra Dunagan Deal served as the First Lady of Georgia from 2011 to 2019. The daughter of educators, she grew up in Gainesville and is a two-time graduate of Georgia College & State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1963 and a master’s degree in elementary education in 1966.
Deal taught language arts at public schools for more than 15 years and retired as a sixth-grade middle school teacher in Hall County. As Georgia's first lady she was a strong advocate for literacy, education and received the 2016 "Georgian of the Year" Award from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.
"We are delighted that Mrs. Deal, a long-time champion for education, has joined our board," said Piedmont College President James F. Mellichamp in a Friday evening press statement. “It is a natural partnership. Since our founding in 1897, Piedmont has a proud history of educating teachers. Our school of education operates the largest graduate program for teacher education in the state and is the state’s second-highest producer of teachers."
Deal will serve on the board’s student life committee.
"Piedmont College has through the years educated many of the caring teachers who taught me, taught with me and inspired others to choose Piedmont," Deal said. "I am honored to be asked to serve on the board. I hope my outlook and experience will enable me to be of service in this position."
Sandra Deal joins 29 other members to comprise the Piedmont College Board of Trustees.
