GSC Names Oliver New Director Of Student Success, Advising and Testing; Moore Adds Director of Athletics Duties
Jerry Oliver, Jr. has been named the new Director of Student Success, Advising and Testing at Gordon State College while Dr. Tonya Moore has added the Director of Athletics duties for Highlander Athletics.
Oliver has over 10 years of experience in higher education, teaching and diversity training. He is currently employed at Augusta University as the Student Success and Learning Skills Coordinator, a position he has held since 2016.
Oliver has also served as the Program Director for the African American Male Initiative (AAMI) and an academic advisor at Augusta University.
Prior to his work at Augusta University, Oliver served as the Student Activities/Intramurals coordinator at South Georgia State College.
Oliver, who will begin at GSC on July 19, brings a wealth of experience in academic coaching, STEM mentoring and the USG Momentum Approach.
“We are very excited that Mr. Oliver will be joining our team,” said Dr. C. Jeffery Knighton, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Our students are going to benefit tremendously from his wealth of knowledge and his passion for their success.”
Oliver earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from Augusta State University; a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University; and a Master of Education in Evaluation, Assessment, Research and Learning from Georgia Southern University.
Oliver is currently completing a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Georgia Southern University.
Moore, who began as director of athletics on July 1, has served on the faculty and staff at GSC for the past 12 years and will continue to serve in her current position as Director of Career Services along with her director of athletics’ responsibilities.
Moore’s primary focus will be to oversee and direct GSC’s intercollegiate athletics program and activities while providing leadership and supervision for the coaches and support staff of GSC’s four varsity sports of baseball, men’s basketball, women’s soccer and softball.
“I consider it an honor and privilege to serve alongside a resilient group of coaches, support staff and athletes,” Moore said. “GSC has produced stellar athletes through our athletic program and I thank our leadership team for the opportunity to continue building on the legacy to move our Highlanders Forward!
Moore is a former women’s track & field athlete at Tennessee State University where she ran under legendary head coach Edward S. Temple, who also coached two U.S. Olympic women’s track & field teams.
“Our athletic programs are representative of our evolving culture at Gordon,” Moore said. “Each year we see new talent that catapults our coaching and support staff to new levels. As we continue to work together regardless of any obstacles we may face, there is no limit to what we can achieve as an institution.
“I look forward to being a part of history in the making as we raise the bar of excellence by staying focused on our students.”
Moore has been instrumental in building GSC’s Career Services from the ground up. She identified an immediate need to formalize Career Services as GSC transitioned from a two-year to a four-year focus and academic programs expanded.
Professional Career Services for students and employer networks have grown exponentially under her leadership and she has served as a state leader in the career services space in multiple capacities.
“I am equally excited to continue building our employer relationships within our 14-county primary service region with a special focus on increasing our internship pipeline for students,” Moore said.
Prior to serving as the Director of Career Services, Moore served in Student Success as a professional advisor and as the Director of the Gordon State College/Fort Valley State University joint program.
Moore supervised 14 faculty members and advised over 200 students in the program.
Moore also served as adjunct faculty with the Business Department at Fort Valley State University and Gordon State College. She spearheaded the inception of the GSC Adult Learner program to create a smooth transition for non-traditional students to enter the academic ecosystem.
Moore is a native of Detroit, Mich., and has earned degrees from Tennessee State University, Bellarmine University, Fort Valley State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. Moore has been married to her husband, Ricky, for 26 years and they have two adult children, Kendall and Kennedi.