[ September 10, 2024 ] Heather Pence, of Pickens County, is serving as the Interim President of Chattahoochee Technical College following the recent retirement of Dr. Ron Newcomb.

"Heather has been a valued leader within the Technical College System of Georgia for over 20 years, having held leadership roles at both Georgia Piedmont College and Chattahoochee Technical College," said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier.

Pence served previously as the Executive Vice President for Operations at Chattahoochee Tech, where she was instrumental in advancing the college across financial, technology, and administrative divisions.

Fresh out of college with a bachelor's degree in accounting, she began her career in state government at the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. It was while auditing multiple technical colleges for this state agency that Pence said she began to realize the value added to Georgians through technical education. She then accepted a position with Appalachian Technical College, which is now part of Chattahoochee Tech, and continued to serve within the TCSG system for two decades.

In 2023, she was selected for the first cohort of 25 participants from across the state in the in the TCSG Senior Leadership Academy, a year-long professional development program.

"As we move forward, I am honored to serve as the Chattahoochee Tech Interim President," said Pence. "We will continue with our amazing momentum to keep making Chattahoochee Tech a great place for students to learn."

Over 11,000 students are currently enrolled at Chattahoochee Tech for the 2024 fall semester, including 2,217 Dual Enrollment high school students and 178 Dual Achievement high school students.

An active member of the Pickens County community, Pence has served on the Board of Directors for the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce. She also served previously as treasurer for the Pickens High School "Pride of Pickens" band.

Pence earned a bachelor's degree from North Georgia College and State University, which merged in 2013 with Gainesville State College to create the University of North Georgia. Pence then earned an MBA at Reinhardt University.

Both of her children were students at Chattahoochee Tech, where her son completed courses in the welding program and her daughter earned 47 college transfer credits as a high school student.

For more information, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.