The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. Russell Crutchfield president of Gordon State College (GSC), effective Aug. 1, 2026.

Crutchfield currently serves as the chief operating officer in the Office of Gov. Brian P. Kemp. A highly experienced administrator with nearly two decades of leadership roles in government and higher education, he previously served as chief of staff and associate vice president at the University of West Georgia (UWG).

Crutchfield’s appointment follows current GSC President Donald J. Green’s selection as the next president of Valdosta State University.

“Dr. Crutchfield’s deep roots within USG and his proven work for Governor Kemp make him the kind of leader Gordon State needs,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “He understands how to connect our classrooms directly to the workforce and build a pipeline of skilled workers for Georgia’s economy. President Green set a strong example for student success, and we’re confident Russell will step right in and keep Gordon State moving forward.”

For Crutchfield, the appointment marks a return to USG after more than two years managing day-to-day operations for the state.

“Thanks to the work of Dr. Green, Gordon State College is in a great position to keep expanding student access and make a real impact in central Georgia,” Crutchfield said. “I’m honored to lead this next chapter and grateful for the confidence Chancellor Perdue and the Board of Regents have shown in me. Working together with our faculty, staff and students, we’ll open new pathways to meaningful careers and build on Gordon State’s strong foundation for the entire Highlander Nation.”

About Dr. Russell Crutchfield

Crutchfield has served as the chief operating officer for Gov. Kemp since January 2024, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in managing Georgia’s state government operations and relations.

A UWG graduate, he spent much of his career in higher education as a member of the university’s executive leadership team, including serving as chief of staff and associate vice president. Among other duties, he managed operations for the UWG Newnan campus, directed government and external relations, oversaw the Office of Public Service and guided regional economic development strategy. During his tenure, UWG was named a best college in the Southeast by the Princeton Review and ranked second in the state for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. He originally began his career at UWG as the government and external relations special assistant to the president.

Before returning to his alma mater, Crutchfield spent years in administrative and policy roles within key state agencies. At the Georgia Department of Public Health (GPH), he served as director of strategic priorities, deputy chief of staff, and principal policy advisor to the commissioner. As the department’s first government relations director in 2011, Crutchfield helped launch its health informatics, healthy aging and telehealth programs while modernizing the Office of Vital Records during his tenure. He also previously served as chief of staff for the Georgia Department of Labor and director of legislative and external affairs at the Georgia Department of Community Health. He began his public service career as a legislative aide in the Georgia Senate and the state House of Representatives.

Deeply involved in the state’s business and healthcare communities, Crutchfield served on the board of directors for the Georgia Department of Community Health from 2016 to 2024, holding roles as vice chairman and secretary. He was also a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce board of directors from 2019 to 2024.

Crutchfield earned a Bachelor of Science in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from UWG. In 2021, he earned a doctorate in leadership and learning in organizations from Vanderbilt University. He and his wife, Susan, the director of the Newnan Carnegie Library, live in Newnan, Georgia.