Anderson Oconee Pickens

Dr. Ronnie L. Booth to Address Graduates at Summer Commencement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE5 8/6/2008

CONTACT:  LISA GARRETT, 646-1506
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Dr. Ronnie L. Booth, president of Tri-County Technical College, will deliver the College's summer commencement address Tuesday, August 12, at 6 p.m. at the Anderson Civic Center.

Approximately 208 students will graduate this month, bringing the year's total of Tri-County graduates to 629.  In addition to families and guests of the graduates, alumni and other friends of the College are invited to attend the ceremony.

Dr. Booth became the College's third president on July 1, 2003. He came to Tri-County from at Gainesville College, where he served as vice president for external programs. Prior to that he served as the College's associate vice president for academic affairs.

During his five years at Tri-County, he has opened the College’s first two branch campuses – the Anderson Campus and the Oconee Campus at the Hamilton Career Center. Recently, the College received approval to purchase 37 acres in Easley for the development of a new Pickens County campus. He also opened the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Economic Development Center, a one-of-a-kind facility on the Pendleton Campus to train workers for new and expanding industries.  In addition, he launched a new Gateway to College program for high school dropouts and the new Bridge to Clemson program with Clemson University.

He holds a B. S. in Business Administration, an M.Ed. in Student Personnel Services and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policies from the University of South Carolina and an M. A. in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Dr. Booth currently serves on the Anderson County Economic Development Board; Anderson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Alliance Pickens Board; WorkLink (Pendleton Workforce Investment Act) Board; Anderson County Development Partnership Board; Anderson/Clemson Alliance Board; Tri-County Young Life Committee; chair of the Community Colleges of Appalachia Board; American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Academic, Student and Community Development; Upstate Alliance Board; Anderson Rotary Club; the Oconee Economic Development Commission; Pendleton Regional Education Center Advisory Board; President’s Advisory Board at Clemson University; Gateway to College Board; and the Oconee Alliance Board.