Dr. Monica H. Baloga has joined Middle Georgia State University (MGA) as special assistant to the president for accreditation and strategic planning. Baloga will lead the University’s reaffirmation of accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

All institutions accredited by SACSCOC are required to undergo an extensive review for reaffirmation of accreditation every 10 years. In addition to spearheading that process, Baloga will oversee the implementation of MGA’s Path to Excellence strategic plan.

Baloga, who has offices on both the Macon and Cochran campuses, comes to MGA from Limestone University, where she served as interim president after three years as provost. She was also a tenured professor of chemistry. She co-chaired Limestone’s Transforming Expectations strategic plan.

“We welcome Dr. Monica Baloga’s expertise and extensive experience in higher education leadership as she leads us through the vital process of reaffirmation of our SACSCOC accreditation, and leads the University’s strategic plan,” said Christopher Blake, Ph.D., MGA’s president. “I am confident that the work she is undertaking will lead to our ongoing accreditation and planning success.”

Prior to her work at Limestone, Baloga was provost and senior vice president for academics and senior vice president for academic administration at Florida Institute of Technology. Other positions she held during her tenure at that institution included vice president for institutional effectiveness and international programs and assistant/associate vice president for institutional compliance and assistant provost for accreditation and assessment.

“I am honored to be part of the MGA community and am committed to assisting President Blake and his office in the important work of meeting strategic priorities and adhering to accreditation standards,” Baloga said. “Preparation for reaffirmation of SACSCOC accreditation is essential, and I look forward to contributing to the success of that process. Together, we will ensure that MGA continues to provide high-quality education in a supportive environment. I thank Dr. Blake for the opportunity to serve on his team.”

Baloga holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was a Merck post-doctoral fellow at Colorado State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Martin.