Atlanta — April 19, 2001

University System of Georgia Chancellor Stephen R. Portch announced today that he has appointed Robert E. Watts, interim president at Floyd College in Rome, Ga., as interim president of Middle Georgia College, in Cochran, Ga.

Middle Georgia is a residential, two-year college of the University System of Georgia. In addition to the Cochran campus, the college collaborates with Georgia Southern University to offer programs at the Dublin Center, in Dublin, Ga.. Middle Georgia College serves approximately 2,000 students.

Watts will begin his new appointment on June 15, 2001. He will serve as interim president at Middle Georgia College until a new president is named for the institution at the conclusion of a national search. He will replace Dr. Steve Maradian, who has served as president of Middle Georgia College since March 1999. Maradian has been appointed to the University System Office, where he will assist in increasing sponsored program activities for the System, including at the federal level.

From 1991 until his August 2000 appointment as interim president at Floyd College, Watts served as executive vice president for financial and administrative affairs with Georgia Perimeter College, in Atlanta. Watts first joined Georgia Perimeter (then known as DeKalb College) in 1986, and served for five years as director of Institutional Research and Planning.

Prior to joining Georgia Perimeter, Watts served from 1982 to 1986 as a budget officer for the Legislative Budget Office of the Georgia General Assembly. Previously, he had served as a Humanities Scholar in Residence for the General Assembly, from 1980 to 1982.

“Rob brings a wealth of experience to this new assignment and a true willingness to serve the University System,” said Portch, upon announcing his appointment. “He has done an outstanding job at Floyd College over the past nine months. Now, with that appointment nearing completion, I am sure he will serve Middle Georgia College equally well.”

Watts earned both his Bachelor of Arts (double majoring in Religion and English), and his Master of Arts in Religion, both from Florida State University, in Tallahassee. He also holds a master’s degree in International Public Policy from the Nitze School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, in Washington, D.C.

Watts is currently enrolled in the joint doctoral program in Public Policy Studies at Georgia State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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