--- title: SR 464. Whirl, Dr. Jermaine; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr464 cite_as: SR 464, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr464 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr464.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr464/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71623 date: 2025-03-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr463.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr465.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr464.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 464 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Derek Mallow - Lee Anderson - Max Burns - Harold Jones - Kenya Wicks - Gail Davenport - Billy Hickman - Ben Watson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR464/2025 upstream_id: 2014705 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Savannah State University - higher education leadership - Senate resolution - Augusta Technical College --- # SR 464. Whirl, Dr. Jermaine; recognize ## Text 25 LC 129 0309 Senate Resolution 464 By: Senators Mallow of the 2nd, Anderson of the 24th, Burns of the 23rd, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Dr. Jermaine Whirl, the incoming President of Savannah State1 University; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Dr. Jermaine Whirl has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the3 vital role that he has played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the welfare4 of the citizens of Georgia; and5 WHEREAS, Dr. Whirl, an Aspen Fellow, is a nationally sought-aft er, award-winning6 authority in workforce and higher education; and 7 WHEREAS, Dr. Whirl has demonstrated his exceptional leadership talents as the President8 of Augusta Technical College, as well as in various positions a t Greenville Technical9 College, Gwinnett Technical College, Savannah Technical College , East Georgia State10 College, and Georgia Southern University; and11 WHEREAS, beginning April 1, 2025, Dr. Whirl will serve as the President of Savannah State12 University; and13 S. R. 464 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0309 WHEREAS, during his remarkable tenure at Augusta Technical Coll ege, Dr. Whirl14 completed a full rebrand of the institution, implemented a new five-year strategic plan,15 established five new academic schools, and was instrumental in the creation of innovative16 and progressive programs; and17 WHEREAS, Dr. Whirl established Accelerate Augusta, a $2.3 milli on incubator-18 microenterprise center in partnership with the Downtown Develop ment Authority of19 Augusta; and 20 WHEREAS, he is also the only college president in the United St ates selected to serve a21 three-year term on the United States Inaugural 21st Century Ene rgy Workforce Advisory22 Board that provides guidance to the Secretary of Energy; and23 WHEREAS, Dr. Whirls commitment to excellence has been recognize d by the numerous24 awards he has received, including the Paragon Award for new pre sidents from Phi Theta25 Kappa, the Leadership Award from the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce, as26 a 2024 Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 honoree, and as a 2025 Georgia Trend Notable Georgian27 honoree; and28 WHEREAS, he is a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for29 integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and30 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this31 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body33 recognize and commend Dr. Jermaine Whirl, congratulate him upon becoming the President34 S. R. 464 - 2 - 25 LC 129 0309 of Savannah State University, and extend their most since best wishes for his continued35 success. 36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed37 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to Dr. Jermaine38 Whirl.39 S. R. 464 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes Dr. Jermaine Whirl, who becomes President of Savannah State University on April 1, 2025, for his career in higher education leadership. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia Senate. It does not change any law. It recognizes Dr. Jermaine Whirl, who is set to become President of Savannah State University starting April 1, 2025, after serving in leadership roles at Augusta Technical College and other Georgia and South Carolina technical colleges and universities. The resolution details his accomplishments, including rebranding Augusta Technical College, creating a $2.3 million business incubator called Accelerate Augusta, and serving on a national energy workforce advisory board. The Senate formally commends him and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to Dr. Whirl. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Dr. Jermaine Whirl for his career in higher education leadership. - Congratulates him on becoming President of Savannah State University effective April 1, 2025. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Dr. Whirl. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, as it is a ceremonial resolution. ### Who it affects The resolution directly concerns Dr. Jermaine Whirl and Savannah State University. It also reflects on the Georgia Senate itself as the body issuing the honor, but it does not impose obligations on the public, agencies, or other institutions. ### Why it matters The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It publicly marks a leadership transition at Savannah State University, a Georgia public university, and formally acknowledges Dr. Whirl's prior work in technical college education across the state. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Dr. Whirl's background, including his presidency at Augusta Technical College and prior roles at several Georgia and South Carolina colleges. - States that Dr. Whirl becomes President of Savannah State University beginning April 1, 2025. - The resolved clause has the Senate officially recognize, commend, and congratulate Dr. Whirl. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Dr. Whirl. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-27) - Sponsors: Derek Mallow, Lee Anderson, Max Burns, Harold Jones, Kenya Wicks, Gail Davenport, Billy Hickman, Ben Watson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71623 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr464.md?full=1