Brooks Keel will be the 12th president of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, the state Board of Regents announced Monday.
Keel, 53, is scheduled to begin in Jan. 1. He replaces current college president Bruce Grube, who is stepping down Dec. 31.
Keel is currently the vice chancellor for research and economic development at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He's also a professor of biological sciences.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll Davis said Keel "brings tremendous academic credentials, understands our state challenges on all dimensions and has the experience to link industry and the academy together in creative and compelling ways.”
He referred to Keel as a "success story" for the university system, noting he's graduated from two of Georgia's colleges. Keel earned degrees from the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta College, which is now called Augusta State University.