FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Maddy Elledge
(706) 379-5319, [email protected]
Young Harris College Welcomes Dr. Jason Pierce as Provost
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Young Harris College is pleased to announce that Jason Pierce, Ph.D., has been selected as Provost effective June 1. He brings 19 years of experience in higher education to YHC.
The College is grateful to Dr. Benny Ferguson, who has served in this capacity as interim, for the leadership he has provided the YHC faculty, staff and students.
“We are so excited to welcome Jason into the YHC family,” said YHC President Dr. Drew Van Horn. “I am confident that he is the best fit for our College as we continue to look at ways to strengthen and expand our academic programs. His expertise and commitment to enhancing student success will be vital for providing the excellence that YHC is known for.”
Dr. Pierce comes to YHC from Tusculum College where he has most recently served as Provost. While at Tusculum College, he also served as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Interim Title IX Coordinator, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACAOC) Liaison and Professor of English.
Prior to his time at Tusculum College, Dr. Pierce served in various administrative and academic roles at Mars Hill University. His tenure at Mars Hill University included serving as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management, Assistant and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chief Information Officer, SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison and as Director of Institutional Effectiveness. He also served as Chair of the Division of Humanities, Chair of the Department of English, Webmaster and Associate Professor English.
Dr. Pierce holds a bachelor of arts and a master of arts from the University of Maine, as well as a master of letters from the University of Saint Andrews. He later went on to earn his doctorate from the University of South Carolina.
He is widely published academically and has presented nationally on a variety of topics, including programs that support first-year student experience and college Honors Programs models.
Dr. Pierce and his wife, Dr. Joanna Pierce, have two sons.
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 2017-2018 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.
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