Georgia Highlands gets interim president

Rob Watts will serve as interim president of Georgia Highlands College starting Jan. 1, following the retirement of president Randy Pierce, the University System of Georgia announced Friday. The Rome college serves about 5,500 students.

Watts, who was recently the system's chief operating officer, is often called on to serve as interim president. He's held this position at Georgia Highlands, Georgia Perimeter College, Middle Georgia College and was the interim director of the Gwinnett University Center before it became Georgia Gwinnett College.