Young Harris College Appoints Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Young Harris College is pleased to announce that Benny Ferguson, Ph.D., has been appointed as interim vice president of academic affairs.
With more than 42 years of experience in the education field, Dr. Ferguson is no stranger to the YHC community. He served as dean of the Division of Fine Arts from 2008 until his retirement in 2011 and was instrumental in creating and building a band program at the College. He founded the Young Harris College Community Band and served as its first director.
“I am thrilled to be back on the Young Harris College campus, and truly never expected this opportunity,” said Dr. Ferguson. “There is a lot to do during this interim period on behalf of the faculty, staff, and students, and we will not be standing still as we search for a president and then vice president of academic affairs.”
The College is grateful to the service of Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Keith DeFoor, Ph.D., who served in the interim role during the spring semester. “My appointment allows Dr. DeFoor to return his focus to our 10-year reaccreditation with SACSCOC,” said Dr. Ferguson. “I feel he is made for that job and know he will continue to do excellent work on our reaffirmation efforts.”
Dr. Ferguson’s expansive career includes 14 years as a high school band director in the public schools of South Carolina and Georgia, and 15 years as a professor of music and music education at the college and university level. After his appointment as a member of the administrative team that founded the Savannah Arts Academy, a performing arts high school that is now one of America’s best high schools, Ferguson served 10 years as Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.
He holds his bachelor of arts from Newberry College and the earned his master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. He went on to receive his doctorate in music education from the University of North Texas, and earned a certification in educational supervision and leadership from Georgia Southern University.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education. The College currently has more than 1,100 students across five divisions—Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga., has completed major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. Recent LEED-certified campus improvements include the 121,000-square-foot Rollins Campus Center, new residence facilities, and a 57,000-square-foot recreation and fitness center. The College is an active member of NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. YHC is among fewer than 300 colleges and universities nationwide named to the 2016-2017 list of Colleges of Distinction and is listed as a “Best National Liberal Arts College” by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
