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Dalton State College president Dr. John Schwenn and Mrs. Judy
Schwenn, left, and former president Dr. Jim Burran and
Mrs. Sally Burran, right, present the portrait of Burran that
will hang in the college’s Westcott Administration Building
Friends from the community and former colleagues gathered on the
Dalton State College campus recently to witness the unveiling of
the official portrait of former president Dr. James A. Burran.
The portrait commemorates President Burran and his 13 years of
service to Dalton State that concluded with his retirement in
February 2008. Professional portraitist Jamie Lee McMahan of
Memphis, Tennessee, was commissioned to do the canvas.
“President Burran’s legacy is one of growth and change,” said
current president Dr. John Schwenn, who became Dalton State’s
fourth president following Burran’s retirement.
“His administration will be remembered for the many changes the
institution experienced, including the change of the college’s
mission from a junior college to a four-year-degree granting
institution.” Dalton State added its first bachelor degrees in
1998 when its name was changed from Dalton College to Dalton
State College.
“His record of achievement is impressive. His gift to the
college and to the entire northwest Georgia region was to
position Dalton State for its move to the next level,” said
Schwenn.
Also during Burran’s tenure, the college experienced record
enrollments year after year, exceeding the 4,500 mark during his
last academic year in the president’s office.
“President Burran’s vision for the college enabled it to grow
and accommodate an increasing number of students,” said Jodi
Johnson, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services.
“Our student population grew by more than 1,500 during his
presidency, spurred by the creation of the bachelor’s degrees
and the expansion of the technical programs.
And he moved the college toward its first student housing,” she
said, pointing out that the first students will live on campus
this coming August.
The college also added a significant number of new faculty
positions during the Burran administration, including three new
endowed chairs – two in business and one in teacher education.
“The faculty grew by nearly one-third thanks to his leadership
in changing the college’s mission from a two-year college to a
four-year institution,” noted Dr. John Hutcheson, Vice President
for Academic Affairs.
“Among the many things he will be remembered for, the quality of
his faculty hires would be near the top of the list.”
College leaders cite Burran’s vision and leadership as being
central to the success of the the DSC Foundation’s $21 million
fundraising campaign in 2006-2007. The Foundation also acquired
more than 100 acres of land adjacent to the campus in the last
years of Burran’s presidency.
“His vision for Dalton State was compelling to everyone he came
into contact with,” says Bob Buchanan, chairman of the DSC
Foundation.
“Any time Dr. Burran had an opportunity to talk with a
prospective donor about the future of the college, that person
came away excited and ready to invest in the future of the
campus with a gift to the DSC Foundation.”
During the unveiling ceremony, Dr. Schwenn spoke about Dr.
Burran’s accomplishments and thanked his predecessor for
building a solid foundation for the college’s future growth.
Burran and his wife, Sally, were on hand to greet old friends
and the college’s faculty and staff.
The portrait will hang in the Westcott Administration Building
when that building is renovated later this year.
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