Former Regent Lori Durden named tech college president

Lori Durden, a former member of the Georgia Board of Regents, was appointed president of Ogeechee Technical College.

The appointment was announced Thursday at the Technical College System of Georgia's monthly meeting. Durden had served as acting president of the Statesboro college for the past month. She replaced Dawn Cartee, who had served as president of the school since January 2007. Cartee resigned June 30 to take a position leading the Georgia Center for Continuing Education at the University of Georgia.

Prior to serving as acting president, Durden had been Ogeechee Tech's vice president of economic development. She was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2013 by Gov. Nathan Deal, and was replaced on the Board by Statesboro attorney Laura Marsh, who was appointed in June. Before coming to Ogeechee Tech, Durden served as director of small business development at Georgia Southern University, where she received her bachelors and masters degrees.

Durden will assume her duties as president on Friday.