Kennesaw State Celebrates Appointment Of Adrian Epps To Chantal And Tommy Bagwell Endowed Dean's Chair

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Dec 10, 2021

Kennesaw State celebrates appointment of Adrian Epps to Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Endowed Dean’s Chair

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Dec 10, 2021) — Adrian Epps was installed Wednesday as the Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Endowed Dean’s
Chair in a celebration held at Kennesaw State University.

As the endowed chair, Epps will be able to bolster education research and student
and teacher opportunities. The endowed dean’s chair was made possible by a $1 million
contribution from Chantal and Tommy Bagwell.

Two generations of Bagwells have provided support to Kennesaw State University and
its faculty, staff, students and alumni. The Bagwell College of Education was named for Clarice and Leland Bagwell in 1996. The College is housed in the Chantal
and Tommy Bagwell Education Building, named after Clarice and Leland Bagwell’s son
and daughter-in-law, and Epps’ appointment to the chair on Wednesday is a result of
the continued generosity of Tommy and Chantal.

“Your family means a great deal to us as an institution, and we are forever grateful
for the investment that you have put into this institution,” Kennesaw State Interim
President Kat Schwaig said. Reflecting on her previous roles at KSU, Schwaig noted,
“It’s an honor to be a dean, but it’s an honor also to carry the name of an individual
who invests in this place.”

Tommy Bagwell said the more he had gotten to know Epps, the more impressed he became
with him. He said Epps’ background in science and his reputation as a visionary throughout
his career in education foreshadows a bright future for the Bagwell College with him
at the helm.

“I think he’s a great fit for KSU, and I’m optimistic that we will be very proud to
have him as that chair,” Tommy Bagwell said.

Epps said being named as the Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Endowed Dean's Chair is “about
getting the work done.”

He said it was his goal to place Bagwell College at the center of influencing student
success in education across Georgia and beyond. Epps said the key to reaching that
goal is innovation, partnerships and producing future-ready educators to fill needs
in the state.

“I really do believe that this college is one of the best institutions in this country
to be at the epicenter of changing what happens in education,” Epps said.

Lance Burchett, vice president for University Advancement and CEO of the KSU Foundation, said the Bagwells' gift will have a lasting positive impact on the College.

“An endowed chair is an academic position supported by earnings from an endowment.
These funds supplement and support the chair holder’s teaching and research endeavors
and are essential, dare I say, critical for attracting and retaining exceptional faculty
and academic leadership,” Burchett said.

Epps was named dean of the Bagwell College in May after previously serving as interim
dean for a year. A recognized education leader in Georgia and beyond, Epps served
as an associate dean in KSU’s College of Science and Mathematics for 12 years before
serving as the interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Dalton State
College. Prior to joining KSU, Epps worked for Atlanta Public Schools as a high school
science teacher, middle school assistant principal and various district-level positions.

The investiture ceremony was also attended by the KSU Foundation board and board of
trustees, KSU staff, leading education officials and family and friends of Epps.

– Thomas Hartwell

Photos by Judith Pishnery

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• Georgia education leader named dean of Kennesaw State’s Bagwell College of Education

• KSU’s School of Instructional Technology promotes innovative teaching and learning

• Georgia Power Foundation grant to help KSU boost number of Black male educators

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.