Albany State University’s Art Dunning, Fort Valley State’s Paul Jones presidential investitures set

ALBANY — Albany State University President Art Dunning and Fort Valley State University President Paul Jones will be formally ushered into their respective offices during presidential investiture ceremonies in September and October.

Dunning, who came to Albany State as interim president 2013, will don the trappings of the office on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Albany Municipal Auditorium. Jones, who spent two years as interim President at Darton State College, will have his investiture at 11 a.m. on Oct. 7 at Fort Valley.

Dunning had the “interim” removed from his title earlier this year.

Prior to being named interim president at Albany State, Dunning served as senior research fellow and professor at the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) in 2013 and vice chancellor for international programs and outreach for the University of Alabama System from 2010 to 2012. He was a tenured professor with the University of Georgia Institute of Higher Education (Athens).

Dunning earned a doctorate in administration/higher education, a master’s degree in counseling and a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Alabama. He has completed post-master’s work at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tenn.) and a management development program at Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.)

Dunning’s investiture will be preceded by an inaugural reception Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Darton Student Center ballroom.

As interim president of Darton, Jones focused on improving the administrative functions of the college by creating an enrollment management division, legal affairs and internal audit departments, restructuring academic divisions into three schools and resolving some audit, accreditation and fiscal challenges.

During his interim presidency, Darton expanded its online degree offerings by adding four new baccalaureate degrees. He also established new articulation agreements with Albany State University, which allow Darton State College students to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree.

At his home institution, Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Jones has served as the senior vice president for finance and administration since May 2013.

Several campuswide events at Fort Valley will commemorate the celebration, including an academic lecture, spirit day, day of community service and football tailgating with Jones and his wife, Sylvia Jones.