Augusta, GA

Countdown to retirement: Brooks Keel’s final days at AU

Published

2 years ago

June 13, 2024

Countdown to retirement: Brooks Keel’s final days at AU

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After nine years of improvements, Augusta University President Dr. Brooks Keel is just days away from retirement.

He’s seen improvements like an increase in enrollment every year since 2015 and seeing thousands of students graduate.

The board of regents is set to vote Friday to decide if the sole finalist, Dr. Russell Keen, will take over the role.

Before saying goodbye to the university, Dr. Keel sat down for one final interview.

His last day is June 28.

He says the achievements over the last nine years are ones he didn’t do alone.

While it’s definitely a bittersweet moment, he says he’s truly in the “sweet spot.”

“I always wanted to retire on my own terms,” said Keel.

After spending 40 years in research and higher education administration, Keel says it’s time he “cut the cord.”

“People have asked me, are you gonna consult or whatever? Why would I want to quit the best job in the world just to do another job? So we’re giving it all up and hitting the (Florida) Keys and start starting fresh,” said Keel.

With his eyes set on the retirement state, he can’t help but reflect on the last nine years as the leader of the Jaguar pack.

“We broke the 10,000 students glass ceiling — 10,546. We had like a seven or eight percent increase in enrollment this past fall versus the fall before that, and a 27% increase in enrollment since 2015. One of the most exciting things is that greater than 50% of our freshman class comes from outside of the CSRA,” said Keel.

And he’s counting down the days until he passes the torch.

“So right now we have 18 days, seven hours, seven minutes and four seconds,” said Keel.

After June 28, the only place you’ll be able to catch him is the water.

“We want to be able to spend as much time as we can, either in the water or on top of the water. Tammy is an avid scuba diver,” said Keel.

The McGhee Block in Aiken added to National Register of Historic Places

He’s sailing into the next chapter, without a cell phone controlling his schedule.

“I have taken up saltwater fly fishing several years ago. So we have a house where we can get in the boat go either up to the Gulf or out to the Atlantic and, be able to fish, dive, and catch your own dinner, those sorts of things,” said Keel.

News 12 got to meet Dr. Russell Keen on Wednesday as we walked out of Keel’s office. While they do not want to jump to conclusions just yet, they are both very confident and excited about the future of AU.

If voted in, Keel says he can’t think of anyone more qualified for the job than Keen.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

3 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

15 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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