Atlanta — September 13, 2004

University System of Georgia Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith announced today the appointment of Tom Call, vice president for Student Services at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, as the College’s new interim president.

Call will assume his duties on Wednesday, September 15, filling the post being vacated by current ABAC President Michael Vollmer, who is leaving ABAC to become the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education.

“Tom Call has an excellent reputation at ABAC and has been a dedicated servant to that institution for many years,” Chancellor Meredith stated. “I am confident he will lead in an exemplary fashion during this interim period.” Call joined the ABAC faculty as an instructor in the Division of Agriculture and Forest Resources in 1981. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1985 and became an associate professor in 1993. In the summer of 1994, Call served as acting chair of the division.

In 1995, Call was named interim registrar of ABAC. He was named registrar in 1996. In 2001, President Vollmer named Call interim vice president for Student and Enrollment Services. In 2003, Vollmer named him to the vice president’s position.

Commenting on his appointment as interim president, Call said, “We have an outstanding faculty, staff, Foundation and alumni base at this college. “I’ll do everything I can to work side by side with them to keep ABAC moving ahead. “We all hate to see Mike Vollmer leave,” Call added, “because he has accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time. But I think he has put together a great Cabinet that works well together, and I believe we can keep it going.”

Call said he will return to the vice-president’s position when his service as interim president ends. An interim vice president will serve in his Student Services position until he returns. That person has yet to be selected. In accordance with board policy, Chancellor Meredith will name a committee to conduct the presidential search to permanently fill the ABAC president’s position. Call will serve until the permanent president is selected.

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