EGSC President announces retirement • February 20, 2025
As we look ahead to a strong semester, the moment is right for me to share some personal news with you. At the end of my current term this summer, I’ll be retiring as President of East Georgia State College. This decision is bittersweet, but after much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to start a new chapter and move closer to family and friends in Florida.
Serving as President of EGSC has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my career. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together — from turning around enrollment to launching the Bobcat Food Pantry to supporting our students in new and meaningful ways. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our incredible faculty and staff. I’m deeply grateful for your support, collaboration, and friendship.
I also want to thank Chancellor Perdue, the Board of Regents and the entire University System of Georgia leadership team for their trust and support during my time here. In fact, after I shared my news with Chancellor Perdue, he passed along this comment that I share with his permission:
“President Schecter over the past three years has been East Georgia State College’s biggest advocate and proudest Bobcat. This past fall, EGSC’s student body grew by more than 3%, a testament to his and his team’s strong focus on enrollment and a great campus experience. I appreciate his dedication and service and wish him our best in his well-earned retirement.”
It’s truly been an honor to serve this institution and community, and I’ll always cherish the memories and relationships built along the way. It’s been 35 years since I began my career in education, starting as a high school teacher in 1990 in my hometown of Ormond Beach, Florida. Education has been the most fulfilling and rewarding path I could have chosen, and I truly can’t imagine having done anything else. It’s my honor to finish that career with all of you.
As for what’s next, I don’t have any set plans yet to be honest, but I’m looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that come with this next phase of life. While I may be moving on, I’ll always be cheering for EGSC and the amazing work that continues here.
Thank you for everything. I look forward to our remaining time together, and I’m as dedicated as ever to making sure our Bobcats thrive.
With gratitude,
David
About the President
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia named Dr. David Schecter the President of East Georgia State College on January 3, 2022.
Since that time he has helped lead the College through its “50th Anniversary” year in 2023 and his main focus is on growing enrollment and ensuring students have a terrific experience on campus.
Dr. Schecter leads an outstanding Cabinet that includes the Provost/Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Vice President for Business Affairs, Vice President for Information Technology, Chief of Staff/Legal Counsel, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Associate Vice President for Grants and Data Analytics, Director of East Georgia State College-Augusta, Director of East Georgia State College-Statesboro, Director of Strategic Planning and Institutional Research, Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police, Director of Human Resources, and the Director of Athletics. This team led the successful implementation of the new FY2024 - FY2028 Campus Strategic Plan and is in the process of launching a new Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree.
Dr. Schecter currently serves on the Boards of the Golden Harvest Food Bank, United Way of Southeast Georgia, Bulloch-Chatham Regional Education Collaborative, Central Savannah River Area/Regional Educational Service Agency, and the Magnolia Midlands Georgia Youth Science & Technology Center. He is most proud to be partnering with Golden Harvest Food Bank to open the Bobcat Food Pantry and work on other projects that support students’ basic needs.
Schecter previously served as Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of South Carolina - Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., where he managed a budget of $38 million, administered a department of 686 employees and supervised deans of the schools and colleges and the library. Prior to serving at USC Upstate, Schecter served as Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs and then Vice Provost at California State University, Bakersfield. He provided oversight for the university’s Office of Research and Grants as well as the Kegley Institute of Ethics. Before joining the administration at CSU Bakersfield, Schecter was Chair of the Department of Political Science at California State University, Fresno where he was granted tenure as a full professor and earned the Provost’s Award for Faculty Service. He also previously taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
A Florida native, Schecter holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Florida and both a master’s degree in political science and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and history from Florida State University. He also holds an MBA from Fresno State. In his spare time, he can usually be found walking on the beach in his hometown of Ormond Beach, Florida, going to a concert to hear one of his favorite 80s bands, playing "No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em," or cringing as he watches his beloved Miami Dolphins in a close game.
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We’re not one of the Colleges you’re seeing on TV…
There’s a lot going on around the world right now. We get it. Some colleges and universities around America are experiencing things they haven’t experienced for decades or more. We respect and appreciate what some of our colleagues in higher education and their students are going through – it’s a tough time.
But we want you to know that not all campuses are like that – and there’s one right here in your backyard in Southeast Georgia that is safe, friendly, and student-focused. East Georgia State College just celebrated its 50th Anniversary last year. We are stable and life is pretty predictable here. We value families and students that want to be part of a quieter atmosphere, conducive to learning, growth, dialogue, and self-reflection. Some would call those small town values, and that works for us.
Our main campus in Swainsboro is on 300+ acres of pine trees, trails and a quiet lake. We have over 400 dorm rooms available and, most importantly, we have the lowest tuition and fees of any school in the University System of Georgia. Ninety-eight percent of students receive some form of financial aid support. We also offer classes in Statesboro, Augusta, and online.
Our terrific faculty and staff work hard every day to help students succeed. We have an access mission and all students are welcome. We support hearing different voices, being tolerant of others, and inviting dialogue and debate. We value peace of mind and those seeking to better themselves, their families, and their communities.
So, if you’re thinking about college right now, give us a chance. Maybe you’re coming out of high school, or you’re an adult learner giving college a try or you want to return to complete your degree - EGSC may be for you. We believe we are the right college at the right time.
Contact us today at 478-289-2017 to learn more or speak with our Admissions team. Follow us and check us out on social media on Facebook and Instagram @eastgeorgiastatecollege and on X @EastGaCollege, or send me a note at presidentFREEOMNIUPDATE. Let’s talk.
Best,
David L. Schecter
President
