Tavarez Holston starts as the new Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) at Lanier Technical College. Mr. Holston has more than 13 years of experience in higher education, including over a decade as an administrator. Holston formerly served at Moultrie Technical College as Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and the Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs. While at MTC, he provided leadership for academic planning, strategic planning, distance learning, assessment, and initial accreditation with SACSCOC.
Holston started his career at MTC as an adjunct business office technology instructor and has since served the college in various roles including campus administrator, Director of Online Instruction, and Director of Institutional Effectiveness.
Holston earned the Bachelor of Business Administration degree from what is now the University of North Georgia, Master of Science in Management in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy University, and expects to complete the Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership at Valdosta State University in spring 2014.
Holston remarked, “I am honored to join Lanier Technical College as its Vice President for Academic Affairs. The College has remarkable leadership, faculty, and staff, and I look forward to working closely with them as we prepare students for Georgia’s workforce.”
“There are few experiences that compare to assisting students arrive at ‘aha’ moments. I believe that helping others learn is one of the greatest joys in life. It is a high calling.”
Prior to beginning his higher education career, Holston worked as an economic developer at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority. As a college undergrad, he worked his way through college as a retail manager for various outlet stores at the North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville and Tanger Outlets in Commerce.
Tavarez and his wife of 17 years, Leigh, have three children. The Holstons regularly lead humanitarian aid teams to the war torn Uganda, Africa to assist and encourage leaders, widows, and orphans.
The new VPAA officially begins his duties at Lanier Technical College on November 18th and will be introduced at each campus as quickly as possible after he arrives.
Dr. Linda Barrow, former VPAA, has assumed the role of Vice President of Adult Education. Dr. Barrow will focus on increasing the number of GED graduates and English as Second Language (ESL) program students in the College's seven county service area.
Lanier Technical College has a 100% placement rate (83.5% in field), an education guarantee, and offers over 40 programs of study in some of the nation's fastest-growing career fields including healthcare, energy, business and industry, and public or private service. More information about Lanier Technical College may be obtained by calling 770-531-6300 or by visiting www.laniertech.edu. Lanier Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.
