TIFTON—Dr. Darby Sewell and Dr. Jordan Cofer have been selected for two new assistant vice president positions at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, according to Dr. Gail Dillard, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Sewell has been named Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Engaged Learning, and Cofer has been selected as the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Learning Resources. Both positions report directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The two new appointees will assume their positions immediately.
“Dr. Sewell has experience providing leadership in the development, administration, and assessment of academic programs which promote engaged learning,” Dillard said. “Her primary focus will be on student internships, study abroad, and undergraduate research. She will also serve as the director of our Quality Enhancement Plan.”
Sewell, a 1998 ABAC graduate, received her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences and her master’s degree in family and consumer sciences education from the University of Georgia. She received her Ph.D. in family and consumer sciences education from Iowa State University.
Dean of the School of Human Sciences since 2009, Sewell has been an ABAC faculty member since 2002. She lives in Moultrie with her husband, Jeff, and their sons, John Wesley and Parks Gentry.
“I view the duties and responsibilities of this new position as a chance to work for both the students and the faculty to ensure that opportunities are there for them to make their experiences and time at ABAC life-changing,” Sewell said. “I plan to showcase and promote the wonderful opportunities available at our institution.”
Dillard said that Cofer will be responsible for assisting the vice president for academic affairs in ensuring that quality learning resources which support ABAC’s academic programs are available and accessible to students and faculty.
“Dr. Cofer has been actively involved during the current academic year with plans to reshape the Carlton Center into the Carlton Learning Center, which includes the operations and services of the Baldwin Library as well as other campus learning resources,” Dillard said.
Cofer earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Southwest Baptist University, his master’s degree in English from Virginia Tech University, and his Ph.D. in English from Texas Tech University. He has been serving as Department Head for English and Communication in the School of Liberal Arts. Cofer released his first book, “The Gospel According to Flannery O’Connor,” in 2014.
An ABAC faculty member since 2009, Cofer and his wife, Rebecca, live in Tifton. She is the coordinator of the ABAC Academic Achievement Center.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Cofer said. “One of my main goals will be trying to develop more academic programming on campus and providing research opportunities for faculty and students. We want the Carlton Center to become a hub on campus.”
Dr. Bobbie Robinson, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, will oversee the operations of the School of Human Sciences in addition to her current duties until a new dean is identified. Dr. Marcus Johnson will serve as interim coordinator for the education program, including physical education and family and consumer sciences, and Anthony Fitzgerald will continue to coordinate the criminal justice, psychology, and sociology programs.
Dillard said that Dr. Wendy Harrison will serve as interim department head for English and communication until a permanent replacement for Cofer is selected.
