The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. Gregory M. Tanner president of South Georgia State College (SGSC), effective immediately.
Tanner currently serves as SGSC’s interim president, a position he has held since Feb. 1, 2023.
“Greg Tanner hasn’t missed a beat over the past three years, providing the kind of steady, student-focused leadership South Georgia State College needs,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “He’s kept the focus where it belongs and believes in the college’s mission. Greg’s worked hard to earn the trust of the students and families SGSC serves, and we’re excited to see him keep that momentum going as permanent president.”
During his time as interim president, Tanner led efforts that resulted in enrollment growth, a national award for student-centered leadership and the successful completion of the college’s first-ever major fundraising campaign. He also guided the institution through its recovery following Hurricane Helene, working alongside campus crews to clear debris and ensure the safety of students and staff.
“I’m humbled by the trust Chancellor Perdue and the Board of Regents have placed in me,” Tanner said. “Over the past several years, our team has stayed focused on helping students succeed and making sure this college is a vital part of the community. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I look forward to working alongside our great faculty and staff to build an even brighter future for Hawk Nation.”
The board named Tanner as interim president in February 2023 following the appointment of former SGSC President Ingrid Thompson-Sellers as president of Atlanta Metropolitan State College.
Under his leadership, SGSC’s enrollment grew despite challenges due to its rural location and the COVID-19 pandemic. This included a 14.7% increase in Summer 2023 that earned a Chancellor’s Cup award for enrollment growth in its state college sector. In all, SGSC grew its enrollment for three straight years between 2022 and 2024 and largely kept those gains through Fall 2025.
Tanner’s focus on students was recognized nationally when he was among 25 college presidents nationwide honored with Phi Theta Kappa’s 2025 Paragon Award for New Presidents. Campus students nominate recipients, who can receive the award only once.
In October 2025, SGSC marked the success of its first-ever major fundraising campaign, “The Heart of South Georgia,” which raised more than $2.1 million. At the same time, SGSC celebrated reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
SGSC also focused on adding academic programs designed to meet regional workforce needs. It’s created transfer and partnership agreements with regional technical colleges, making it easier for students to earn bachelor’s degrees in management, education, nursing and other high-demand fields. For his role in helping create a new, first-of-its-kind Emergency Services concentration in SGSC’s School of Business, Tanner received the Dr. Zeb L. Burrell MD Distinguished Service Award at the Georgia EMS Association’s annual awards banquet in March 2026.
Tanner previously served as SGSC’s vice president for advancement, government relations and athletics. He first came to what was then South Georgia College in 2012 as dean of students, shortly before the college consolidated with Waycross College in 2013.
Tanner has spent his entire career in education, previously working as a K-12 school principal in Douglas and Nicholls, Georgia, and Ware Shoals, South Carolina. A member of the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) Hall of Fame, he was named the Georgia Region XVII Softball Coach of the Year after leading ABAC to the 1995 NJCAA Softball Championship.
Tanner earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree in both physical education and education leadership from Valdosta State University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and supervision from Nova Southeastern University.
