Augusta, GA
‘Education can change your life’: New AU chief shares vision
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Monday marked the start of a new era at Augusta University: It was Dr. Russell Keen’s first day as president.
Longtime President Dr. Brooks Keel retired last week, and Keen, an internal candidate to be his successor, has taken over.
Keen is no stranger to the area. He is a graduate of Lakeside High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University and a Doctor of Higher Education from the University of Georgia.
Keen has more than 20 years in higher education.
Prior to becoming AU’s president, Keen served as executive vice president of administration and chief of staff to the president.
Out of all the job candidates that applied for the role, regents say Keen’s knowledge of Augusta University and the community really made him stand out.
We sat down with Keen to talk about his plans for the university.
“We have some of the most productive research faculty in the country for our size. The only limiting factor we have is space and infrastructure,” said Keen.
He says creating more space is a top priority.
“We need new infrastructure, new space for researchers to really go through and tackle disease and break some of the chains of cardiovascular disease, cancer, brain health,” said Keen.
The goal is to make AU the top university for research in the country.
“We want to grow our enrollment at Augusta University. We want to continue to provide programs that are competitive, and that will meet the workforce challenges that we have in the state and beyond,” he said. “Our goals are to enhance and increase our research. We want to be one of the top 60, then top 50, 40 30, 20, 10 five and one. That’s our goal.”
Above all, Keen wants everyone on campus to feel a sense of place — starting now.
In his first few hours on the job, Keen spoke with first-generation college students.
He says he wants them to see that having an education can make positive contributions to the community.
“If you’re a first-generation college student, and you’re trying to figure it out, you might hear voices in your own head or from other people saying you can’t do it and it doesn’t matter. But I’m living proof that an education can change your life. And that education can contribute to the community and the state of humanity,” said Keen.
Keen says he wants to really emphasize community engagement while president.
He says he wants the community to connect with the university that bears the same name.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several artists came together for a Mother’s Day concert Bethel Community Church Family Life Center.
Lucresha Thomas with Psalm 100 Entertainment said the event honors mothers.
“I think that is very important to honor the mothers because there’s some people that don’t have mothers due, the mothers passing away and mothers not being local,” Thomas said. “So this helps bring them together and they’re able to fellowship with other mothers and just be positive, bringing some gospel to the community where they can fellowship together, be blessed and maybe receive a blessing.”
Host Tommy Ingram said groups from across the area participated in the concert.
“We got a live, a lot of groups coming from all over the area to make sure that all the mothers in the area have a good time today,” Ingram said.
Host Adrian Monet said the free concert gives back to the community.
“Well, okay, yeah, a lot of mothers enjoy some good gospel singing. They love gospel concerts,” Monet said. “And this one is a give back, you know, to the community because it’s completely free. And so it’s a chance for people to bring their mothers to enjoy the music that they love so much.”
Erica and Jessica Harris, co-owners of Sophisticated Soul Food, said they wanted to celebrate mothers.
“Okay, we’re out here today for this pre-Mother’s Day event, and we’re just, we just want to give back to the community and celebrate all mothers,” the co-owners said. “And so we’re so excited to be out here. And we have great soul food for everybody that wants to come out.”
Kenneth Medlock, Tyrell Gibson and Gary Durham of The Country Boys, a gospel group from Thomson, said they were honored to participate.
“So we’re just so grateful to be here and honored to be able to stand up and let the world know how good God is through our songs and our praise,” the group said.
Anthony Gallant and Lamont McDowell, members of a gospel group from the Carolinas, said celebrating mothers is important.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s extremely important because mothers work hard throughout the year. They’re very diligent,” Gallant and McDowell said. “And I think at least if you could celebrate them one time, just make them feel special and that the queens that they are, I think it’s important and they’ll feel that love.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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