In a ceremony to be attended by local and state officials representing government and education, friends, family, students, faculty and staff, Dr. Kirk A. Nooks will be Invested as the Fourth President of Gordon State College.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 26th in the Student Activities and Recreation Center on the east side of the Gordon State College campus. The public is invited to attend.

The campus will be closed and classes cancelled through noon, and all offices will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon to allow students and the campus community to attend the Investiture.

“It is with the highest honor that I will be formally invested as the President of this historic institution,” said Nooks. “I am deeply moved that members of our 14-county primary service region, Gordon students, members of the campus community and friends and family from near and far will be present and a part of this event.”

More than 90 students will play a part in the program including Dijonae Gentle, who will sing the National Anthem and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

“I am excited to be a part of this event,” said Gentle, a sophomore biology major from Jonesboro, Ga. “Dr. Nooks is so involved with the students. I feel like I am giving something to him on behalf of the students.”

Members of the Ga. State Patrol Honor Guard will present the Colors and Dr. Benny Tate, Pastor of Rock Springs Baptist Church, Milner will deliver the Invocation.

Griffin physician and member of the University System Board of Regents C. Thomas Hopkins will deliver remarks while greetings will be shared by Ga. Senator Marty Harbin, Ga. Rep. Robert Dickey, Barnesville Mayor Peter Banks, Dr. David Bridges, President of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will share greetings on behalf of the Presidents of the University System of Georgia; Dr. Laura Lackey, Dean, and Professor of Environmental Engineering, Mercer University will share greetings from Dr. Nooks’ Alma Mater.

Others who will share greetings include, Phillip Bell on behalf of the Gordon State College Foundation, Kathryn Claxton on behalf of the Gordon State College Alumni Association, Professor Tony Pearson on behalf of the Gordon State College Faculty, Gratasha Banks on behalf of Gordon State College Staff, Riley Fuller on behalf of the Gordon State College Student Government Association and Dr. Nooks’ eldest daughter Anniston will deliver greetings on behalf of the Nooks family.

The Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Steve Wrigley will deliver the Charge and Presentation of the Medallion.

Nooks will then address the crowd as the Fourth President of Gordon State College.

 Alexus Strickland, a GSC art student, will share a Reflection on the Occasion, the Gordon State Choir and those present will sing the Alma Mater, and Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson will deliver the benediction.

Michael Grest, who has for many years played the bagpipe during graduation will lead the recessional. Having a bagpiper play at important campus events is a nod to Gordon’s Scottish roots.

“This is a really inspiring time for the campus community,” said Justin Mathis, interim director of admissions. “I am so happy to be a part of the Investiture of Dr. Nooks as Gordon’s Fourth President.”

An investiture is a formal ceremony of conferring the authority and symbols of high office and is held during the new president’s first year in office. It is an academic ceremony which has symbolized the pursuit of knowledge since the Middle Ages. Today, Investitures are opportunities to welcome a new era and celebrate as a community.

Nooks assumed the Presidency at Gordon State College in June of 2018.