Atlanta — November 8, 2007

Regent James R. Jolly, chair of the Special Regents’ Committee for the presidential search at Dalton State College (DSC) in Dalton, and University System of Georgia Chief Operating Officer Rob Watts have announced the names of the three finalists for the DSC presidency.

A national search was launched to replace DSC President James A. Burran, who earlier this year announced his plans to retire as of Dec. 31, 2007, after 12 years of service to DSC and 30 years of service to the University System of Georgia.

The recommended individuals, in alphabetical order:

Dr. David C. Gnage, CEO and chancellor of Penn State Mont Alto, in Mont Alto, Pa., since 2002. Penn State Mont Alto is a residential institution within the 24-campus Penn State system. From 1995 to 2001, Gnage helped develop and provided leadership to the newly formed International College of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., first as senior officer for finance and administration, then as vice dean and finally as interim dean. From 1982 to 1995, he was based at Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he served first as college registrar and director of admissions and then as dean of business affairs for the North Campus, which had an enrollment of 9,500 credit students. Before that, Gnage spent 14 years at Genesee Community College, a campus of approximately 2,500 students located in Batavia, N.Y. He began teaching mathematics there in 1968 and eventually also was appointed director of academic services/registrar.

Gnage holds a Ph.D. conferred in 1993 by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. He also has an MBA earned in 1982 from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master of science degree conferred in 1968 and a bachelor of science degree earned in 1967, both from the State University of New York at Brockport.

Dr. Thomas L. Krepel, assistant to the president of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., since 2005, and president of Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb., from 1998 to 2005. Krepel also served as Chadron State’s senior vice president for academic affairs for a year before his interim and then permanent appointment as president. Before that, he served as dean of the Office of University Outreach and an associate professor of educational administration at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas, from 1992 to 1997. Krepel was a member of the staff of the Center for Educational Administration and Leadership at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn., where he was also an associate professor and a member of the graduate faculty, from 1990 to 1992. From 1986 to 1990, he served as assistant to the chancellor and director of university relations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in

Lincoln, Neb., where he was an assistant professor and a member of the graduate faculty. Prior to 1986, Krepel served on the staff of the Nebraska Legislature and held a number of teaching positions as a member of the faculty of the University of New Orleans, Omaha (Neb.) Public Schools, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Bellvue (Neb.) Public Schools.

Krepel holds a Ph.D. (1983), a master of education degree (1979) and a bachelor of science degree (1972), all earned at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dr. John Schwenn, vice president for academic affairs at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., since 1997 and interim president of the institution for five months during 2006. Schwenn began his tenure at Emporia State in 1989 as an associate professor and associate chair of the Division of Psychology and Special Education in the Teachers College, but within a few years, he was appointed department chair, then associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies and research. After three years, Schwenn was appointed to his current position, in which he provides leadership to the university’s faculty in all disciplines. Before his arrival at Emporia State, Schwenn taught at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., from 1976 to 1989.

Schwenn holds a Ph.D. (1976) and a master of science degree (1973), both earned at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor of science degree (1971) from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. In 2005, the latter institution presented him with its Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Board of Regents expects to name the next president of Dalton State College at a future meeting.

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