‘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.

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