Technical College System of Georgia commissioner Ron Jackson announced Feb. 28, that Craig McDaniel, president of Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome, has agreed to lead the system’s International Center.

“I asked Dr. McDaniel to consider this position because he’s highly respected throughout our system for his knowledge of technical education,” Jackson said, “and is well-known in the business community for his understanding of workforce development. I trust him to manage the structures, policies and procedures for the TCSG International Center. He will help us build more global partnerships for our colleges and open doors worldwide that can benefit our system, students and state.”

McDaniel will move into his new position as the assistant commissioner for the TCSG International Center, April 1.

"There is a great deal of global interest in the reputation of our technical colleges' being able to respond to the needs of employers.” McDaniel said. “I look forward to working with our colleges in developing international training and education programs."

Jackson said he will name Pete McDonald, the vice president of economic development at GNTC, to be the acting president of the college until a new president is chosen. Details of a selection process for the next president will be announced at a later date.

The International Center provides program development for collaborations between the TCSG colleges and higher education systems in other countries that are interested in improving their technical education and workforce development programs through the sharing of TCSG people, programs and best practices.

Recently, the TCSG entered into an $8.2 million contract with King Faisal University to help create a new community college and expand workforce training in Saudi Arabia. The center will also explore other training and exchange partnerships with governments and colleges in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia and India.

McDaniel became president of his college in 1998, when it was known as Coosa Valley Technical College. In 2009, he guided the effort that created Georgia Northwestern Technical College from the merger of Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College in Rock Spring. Today, the college is one of Georgia’s largest, serving almost 10,000 students annually on its main campus in Rome and additional campuses in Rock Spring, Calhoun, Dalton and Rockmart.

His earlier experience includes serving as the vice president of planning and development at North Metro Technical College (now Chattahoochee Technical College) in Acworth from 1997 to 1998. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Coosa Valley Tech where he held several leadership positions including vice president of economic development, vice president of instructional services, vice president of student services and vice president of administrative services.

McDaniel has doctorate of education and specialist in education degrees from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in education from Georgia State University and a bachelor of science degree from Carson Newman College.

The 25 colleges of the TCSG offer education and training in over 600 certificate, diploma and two-year associate degree programs. In 2012, the TCSG colleges delivered 2.8 million credit hours of instruction to more than 170,000 students.

The TCSG is also online, serving 85,000 students through the system’s Georgia Virtual Technical Connection. TCSG students enjoy the benefits of Georgia’s HOPE grant and scholarship and the federal Pell grant, which will pay for a significant portion of a TCSG education. For more information about the TCSG and links to a technical college in your area, go to tcsg.edu