Dr. Ronnie L. Booth to Address Graduates at Summer Commencement

Dr. Ronnie L. Booth, president of Tri-County Technical College, will deliver the College's summer commencement address Friday, August 2, at 6 p.m. at the Anderson Civic Center.

Approximately 344 students will receive degrees, diplomas and/or certificates.  In addition to families and guests of the graduates, alumni and other friends of the College are invited to attend the ceremony.

Dr. Booth became the College's third president on July 1, 2003.  He came to Tri-County from Gainesville College, where he served as vice president for external programs. Prior to that he served as the College's associate vice president for academic affairs.

During his 10 years at Tri-County, he has launched three community campuses in Anderson, Seneca and Easley.  The Seneca and Easley campuses have QuickJobs Development Centers for workforce and industry training and a center in Anderson is under construction. In January, the new 43,000 square-foot Industrial Technology Center opened in Sandy Springs.  The facility, which houses the Welding and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) programs, is helping to meet the growing needs of local industry.

In 2005, Dr. Booth also opened the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Economic Development Center, a one-of-a-kind facility on the Pendleton Campus to train workers for new and expanding industries.  In addition, he launched the Connect to College program for high school dropouts and the Bridge to Clemson program with Clemson University.

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration, an M.Ed. in Student Personnel Services and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policies from the University of South Carolina and an M. A. in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  Last year he was awarded an honorary doctorate of Humanities from Clemson University.