Since his arrival to the college in November 2020, he’s completed a full-rebrand of the institution, implemented a new five-year strategic plan, established 5 new academic schools, established a new School of Health Sciences Campus at Summerville in partnership with Piedmont Augusta, became the first institution of higher education in Augusta to be selected an Amazon Choice Partner, established the Augusta Advantage Transfer Program and statewide Cyber articulation agreement with Augusta University, helped the college achieve its 10-year reaffirmation for SACSCOC accreditation, secured $5.5m of state funding to create a CDL Truck Driving Range in McDuffie County, established Accelerate Augusta- a $2.3 million incubator/microenterprise center in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta with congressional dollars, obtained a $1m gift to name the college’s first academic school (T.R. Reddy School of Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Technology), co-chaired the Augusta Workforce Hub Initiative, and most recently partnered with Augusta National Golf Course (Master’s Tournament) and First Tee of Augusta to revitalize the Augusta Municipal Golf Course to establish the nation’s first corridor of golf education in partnership with the City of Augusta.

“It is indeed an honor to be recognized for this prestigious recognition from Georgia Trend Magazine. It’s an incredible reflection of the transformative work happening at Augusta Technical College; our students, employees, board members, our partners, and the Greater CSRA Community.

Dr. Whirl’s commitment to service is extensive. He is the only college president in the United States selected to serve a three-year term on the U.S. Inaugural 21^st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board that provides guidance to the Secretary of Energy. He also serves other regional and national boards, taskforces, and councils for organizations such as TD Bank, HERDI, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Queensborough National Bank, the Warrior Alliance, and the American Association of Community Colleges. Within the CSRA he serves on the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Board (Chairman), United Way of the CSRA Board, CSRA Regional Commission, SRS Community Reuse Organization, and the CSRA Alliance for Fort Eisenhower. He also holds an honorary board membership with the Morris Museum of Art and is a member of the Rotary Club of Augusta