Former District 50 State Senator John Wilkinson of Toccoa has been named President of North Georgia Technical College. Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier announced his appointment today.
Wilkinson spent nine years in the State Senate. He chose not to seek reelection last year to run for Congress. His term officially ended on Jan. 11. The former senator will succeed the late Mark Ivester as NGTC president. Ivester died last year from COVID.
Wilkinson has a background in education, having served as a Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) specialist.
“Senator Wilkinson has spent his professional life advancing and advocating for CTAE here in Georgia,” says Commissioner Dozier. “He is one of Georgia’s leading CTAE experts, and we are excited for him to lead North Georgia Technical College as we serve the needs of business and industry in the region and across the state. I know he will continue the lasting legacy left by Dr. Mark Ivester by providing opportunity for every student that comes through the college’s doors.”
During his time in the State Senate, Wilkinson served as the Chairman of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and as Vice-Chairman of the Education and Youth Committee. In 2012, he was named “Policy Maker of the Year” by the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education. Before being elected State Senator, Wilkinson was a program manager at the Georgia Department of Education, where he oversaw its agricultural education programs. He also worked as the executive secretary for the Georgia Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association.
“I am truly honored to be chosen to lead North Georgia Technical College,” says Wilkinson. “Technical education is near and dear to my heart as I have seen how it transforms the lives of students. It is my goal to continue in the footsteps left by Dr. Mark Ivester by providing business and industry with a skilled workforce and by helping more students realize their full potential through postsecondary education.”
A lifelong advocate of CTAE, Wilkinson began his career teaching Agriculture and serving as an FFA advisor in Banks County and Forsyth County public high schools. Wilkinson received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Masters in Education at the University of Georgia.
He has been recognized as a leader in vocational agriculture education throughout his career and is a member of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame.
The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia approved Commissioner Dozier’s appointment of John Wilkinson on Thursday, January 14, in Atlanta. Wilkinson will assume his new role as NGTC President on February 1.
