AMERICUS — John Watford, Ed.D., South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) vice president of Operations for the Crisp County Center, has assumed additional responsibilities for the college and will now also serve as the interim vice president for Academic Affairs effective immediately, announced SGTC President Sparky Reeves.

“This is a great opportunity for South Georgia Technical College and for Dr. Watford,” explained Reeves. “I have full confidence in Dr. Watford’s knowledge and abilities and look forward to working with him in this expanded role.”

Watford served as director of Instruction in the Academic Affairs office at SGTC from 1997 until 2006, when he accepted the vice president of Operations position at the Crisp County Center. As such, he has been responsible for all personnel and operations at the Crisp County Center campus of SGTC including academic affairs.

In his expanded role, Watford will continue to oversee all of the operations of the Crisp County Center as well as oversee the operations for the Academic Affairs department and instruction for the entire college.

“I am extremely honored that President Reeves has expressed his confidence in my abilities,” stated Watford. “I am very excited and pleased about these new responsibilities and I look forward to continuing to work with the professionals at South Georgia Technical College in this expanded role.”

In addition to his current duties and his decade of experience in the Academic Affairs department, Watford also served as the information technology director for the college from 1996 to 1997, overseeing the administrative student records system and accounts receivable system as well as purchasing, network support, maintenance and installation of all computer hardware and software for the college.

He also served as a computer information systems instructor on the Americus campus from 1990 until 1996. Prior to joining SGTC’s faculty and staff, he worked with Cooper Lighting in Americus as an applications engineer.

“This is an exciting time for South Georgia Technical College,” said Reeves. “We are transitioning from the quarter to the semester system in August, and as the interim vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Watford will help provide a smooth transition for students and faculty and staff.”

Watford was named interim vice president for Academic Affairs after Robbie Smith Latimore, Ed.D., announced her retirement from the position.

Watford is married to Barbara Jernigan Watford, who is the principal of Sarah Cobb Elementary School in Americus. The couple has three children: Mark, 20, who attends Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW); Joshua, 18, who will attend Valdosta State University this fall; and Lacey, 15, who is a student at Americus-Sumter County High School.

He is the son of the late Rev. Mervin Watford and Dorris Watford of Americus and the brother of Lettie Watford, Ph.D., of Americus who is the Dean of the School of Education at GSW.