Augusta Technical College is excited to announce that Melissa Frank-Alston, PhD., Provost at Augusta Technical College, will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, August 17 for the Chamber’s Women In Business program. The event will focus on ways our educational pipeline is supporting digital education and technology workforce development. Dr. Frank-Alston will share information regarding dual enrollment programs which encourage high school students to start their computer science training early, as well as discuss the technical college's role in placing students into the industry post education. The business community will also understand ways in which building the Augusta region’s technology workforce will contribute to our economy across all sectors. 

Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston has worked in the higher education sector for almost 30 years and has been with the College since 2005 serving in various vice presidential roles. She currently serves as the college’s accreditation liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Since 2010, Dr. Frank-Alston has collaborated with faculty, staff, administrators, and local business and industry partners to secure over $8 million in federal and private grants to support student success efforts at Augusta Technical College. 

Dr. Frank-Alston holds a Ph.D. in Workforce Education & Development with an emphasis in Training/Human Resources from Pennsylvania State University, a M.S. in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University, and a B.A. in Anthropology from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Augusta, a 2014 graduate of the Technical College System of Georgia Executive Leadership Academy, and a 2018 graduate of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence (1 of 40 in the nation), a highly selective leadership program which seeks to develop a cadre of exceptional community college leaders for future presidential roles.

In 2018, she received the Pennsylvania State University College of Education Alumni Society Award for Leadership and Service. Dr. Frank-Alston currently serves on the Foundation Board of Directors of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe. She and her husband Dr. Sparticus Alston have two daughters, Cosette and Colette.

The Women In Business program is presented by Powell & Associates, Inc. Event begins at 11:30 am at the Enterprise Mill Events Center. Tickets are $25 for Chamber members and $35 for prospective members with lunch included. Advanced registration required at augustametrochamber.com. Registration deadline is Friday, August 13. 

It is the mission of the Women in Business Committee to strengthen the business community of the Augusta region by providing programs that enhance the knowledge, success and leadership goals of working women at all stages of their personal and professional lives.