The Center for Lifetime Study at Brenau University, which is home to the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute (BULLI), recently filled two positions on the Gainesville campus.
Former Gainesville First Baptist pastor Rev. Bill Coates is filling one of them, parttime BULLI community coordinator.
Coates was the longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville prior to retiring last August.
At Brenau, he will be responsible for increasing and enhancing BULLI relationships and memberships through community outreach, programming, sponsorships, and teaching, according to a Brenau news release.
Coates has taught literature courses as an adjunct instructor at Brenau and taught BULLI courses for 20 years. In his new role, he will teach three term courses per year, assess the demand for academic and social programming specific to target populations in the surrounding area, attract and retain strong membership and volunteer bases, and much more.
"Literature and BULLI are twin passions of mine, and I am especially grateful for the opportunity to become even more deeply involved in the BULLI family,” Coates said.
Meanwhile, Tim Bryant assumed the position of executive coordinator of the Center for Lifetime Study in July.
The Center for Lifetime Study works with campus and community stakeholder groups to provide educational opportunities for the entire community.
Bryant has more than 20 years of experience in community and program development and higher education. Prior to Brenau, he established the Center for Ethical Leadership at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and served as the founding executive director.
"As a native of North Georgia, I am thrilled to be joining a highly regarded institution like Brenau and working with my colleagues at the Center for Lifetime Study to continue its legacy of providing excellent adult education programs," Bryant said.
While in Cincinnati, Bryant was dubbed one of Cincy Magazine’s 2013 Outstanding Educators. In Georgia, he previously worked for Young Harris College, where he created the framework for the Center for Appalachian Studies and Community Engagement and worked closely with the Towns County Family Connection Collaborative and regional units of the American Red Cross, Relay for Life and Special Olympics.
