Augusta, GA
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.
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.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Finding Solutions: Augusta Training Shop celebrates inclusion, community at ‘Red, White, and Create’
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Employees with disabilities at the Augusta Training Shop are creating patriotic art as part of a holiday project that drew community members to the nonprofit.
The theme of the event was “Red, White, and Create,” which the script describes as a simple holiday art project focused on inclusion and community.
Eli Sikes, a student at Augusta Technical College, was among the Augusta Tech students who came to the shop to create, take part in the event and give back.
“It feels really good,” Sikes said. “I feel like it’s important to go out in your community and get to know some people you may not have met in your everyday life.”
Sikes said the training shop gives people a place to showcase their talents and skills for others in the community to appreciate.
The Augusta Training Shop is a nonprofit that, for decades, has provided a place where people with disabilities find meaningful work, creative expression and community, according to the script.
Employee Greg Solden said he makes “decoupage balls” and uses papier-mâché on them.
“I love having people here and trying to encourage them,” Solden said.
Liam Welch, a board member with the Augusta Training Shop, said he has watched the organization grow over the years, including moving locations.
“The training shop has grown every single year since I was a young boy coming here,” Welch said.
The Augusta Training Shop is located on Jenkins Street. The shop has a variety of July Fourth art available for purchase, and the script notes that buying crafts from the shop supports jobs for employees.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The parent company of E-Z-GO has announced it plans to split its products as Textron looks to become a “pure-play” aerospace and defense company.
Textron’s specialized vehicles production headquarters is in South Augusta.
On its LinkedIn page, it boasts a workforce of more than 1,000 employees.
Textron said in a statement that it “intends to explore multiple paths to effect the planned separation of its Industrial segment, including but not limited to a sale of the Industrial businesses.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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