“Well done good and faithful servant,” is an appropriate phrase to describe the career of South Georgia Technical College Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Vanessa M. Wall, who has devoted over 42 years of service to the fields of education, law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management. Today, she is announcing her plans to retire from SGTC effective January 1, 2022.
“On behalf of everyone at South Georgia Technical College, I would like to thank Vanessa Wall for her service to the college over the past 19 years. She has been a key member of our team and has devoted herself to making South Georgia Technical College a better place not only for the students but also for the faculty and staff,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “She will be missed because she has been active and involved in every aspect of the college life here.”
Vanessa Wall began her career at South Georgia Technical College as the initial Criminal Justice instructor in September 2002. Under her leadership, the program grew to become one of the largest single instructor programs on campus. She helped expand the program from the Americus campus to the Crisp County Center campus and also served as chair of the Criminal Justice Program.
In September of 2005, her responsibilities on the instructional side of the college grew as she was named Chair of the Health and Personal Services Division in addition to her Criminal Justice instruction. She was also very instrumental in creating the POST certified Law Enforcement Academy for South Georgia Technical College and shared duties overseeing that program as well as her other responsibilities.
She was named Dean of Academic Affairs in June of 2012 and served the college in that capacity overseeing the Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Academy, Fire Science, EMT, Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting, Cosmetology, and Barbering programs and their instructors. In July 2019, she was named Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs in charge of campus security, student activities and on-campus housing.
In addition to those duties, Wall also serves as the COVID Coordinator for the college, organizes intramural sports, and serves as the lead advisor for the Student Government Association, SkillsUSA Chapter, and Phi Beta Lambda. She coordinated the GOAL and Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year competitions as well as served as Chair of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation Internal TechForce committee and was on the Jets Booster Club advisory committee.
Wall has an Associate of Criminal Justice from Middle Georgia College, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Masters of Public Administration from Columbus State University. She is also POST certified and a POST certified instructor. She has worked for the Warner Robins Police Department and also was the Chief of Police for the Middle Georgia College Police Department. She also served with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
“Vanessa Wall has been an integral part of South Georgia Technical College for nearly two decades. She is a proven educator and public safety official with outstanding experience in municipal and college law enforcement and emergency management. She has served our college and our students with passion, dedication, enthusiasm, and demonstrated extraordinary leadership,” said President Watford. “She has definitely earned this opportunity and we wish her all the best.”
Over the next few months, Wall will be working with campus leaders to insure a smooth transition of ongoing projects and current administrative duties.
Vanessa Wall is married to Rodney Wall of Ellaville and they have three grown children.