Augusta University President Dr. Russell T. Keen welcomed on his first day

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- From Dr. Keel to Dr. Keen, Augusta University staff and students filled the room right here in the Dr. Roscoe Williams Ballroom to welcome their new university leader.

“Together, Augusta, we will break every chain and rise to new heights of success and achievement…,” Augusta University President Dr. Russell T. Keen said.

Monday morning, Dr. Russell T. Keen rang in as the new president for Augusta University.

“It’s not just the university as what you see passing Elm Street, it’s students, it’s staff at all levels of this organization…,” Dr. Keen said.

A role he tells me, he’s ready to serve in.

“I started the day– Karen and I– went, purposefully to talk to students, particularly to our first-generation college students and our graduate students. We talked to those classrooms and what I hope to say to them, like look, if you’re a first-generation college student, and you’re trying to figure it out, that you might hear voices in your own head, or from people saying you can’t do it, and it doesn’t matter, but I’m living proof that an education can change your life…,” Dr. Keen said.

Dr. Keen is the successor of colleague and friend, former AU President, Dr. Brooks A. Keel. He shares some of his plans for growth in research.

“We have some of the most productive research faculty in the country, for our size– the only limiting factor we have is space and infrastructure. Some of the buildings that were here that we’re talking about demolishing were here before I was born. So, we need new infrastructure and new space for our researchers to go in and tackle disease and break some of the change cardiovascular disease, cancer, brain health. We just need more space…”

Now, as president, Keen shares, he’s ready to get to work.

Dr. Keen says he and his administration’s main goal is to make sure Augusta University becomes the number one institution in the country, starting from day one.

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