President
Office of The President
The Office of the President provides leadership for the overall operation of the college, ensuring the institution proceeds within its approved statement of purpose. The president coordinates these operations through the Offices of Academic Affairs, Enrollment and Student Services and Fiscal Affairs. Also, the president provides direction for intercollegiate athletics, the marketing and communications and institutional research functions and serves as the official liaison to the Dalton State College Foundation.
Dr. John M. Fuchko III
Dr. John Fuchko III was named president of Dalton State College effective Oct. 5, 2023. He began his tenure at Dalton State as interim president in June of 2023 and previously served as interim president of Columbus State University.
Dr. Fuchko's higher education and state government service has spanned more than 20 years – all of which has been focused operational and auditing roles within the University System of Georgia. As vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness at USG, he oversaw enterprise risk management, compliance and ethics, athletics oversight, strategic implementation, accreditation and various other administrative functions. Prior to that role, he served for seven years as USG's chief audit officer and vice chancellor for internal audit, which included responsibility for 25 campus audit shops and 80 professional staff. He also oversaw three of the USG's institutional consolidation efforts. Previously, Dr. Fuchko served in various audit and compliance positions with the Board of Regents and with the State Department of Audits and Accounts.
In addition to his professional civilian roles, Dr. Fuchko serves as a colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard. He is the commander of the 122nd Regiment (Regional Training Institute), and his two decades of service have also included roles such as Commander, 122nd TSD, G2 (intelligence Officer) for the Georgia Army National Guard, executive officer for the 78th Troop Command, and battalion commander for the 221st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion. He has deployed twice to the Middle East, has commanded five times, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters.
A Georgia native, Dr. Fuchko holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Kennesaw State University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, student government president and Board of Regents' student advisory council chair. He earned an MBA at Georgia State University, a master of science degree in strategic intelligence at the National Intelligence University, a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a doctorate in education at The University of Georgia.
He served as an officer and board member for several nonprofits and served as "first councilor" at Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church. Dr. Fuchko currently is the chair for the Center for Family Resources. He has served as president and/or chair of several nonprofits, include the 1,900-member Institute of Internal Auditors Atlanta Chapter and previously served as editor of the College and University Auditor journal of the Association of College & University Auditors.
Dr. Fuchko has been featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle and regularly speaks on internal audit, governance and higher education topics. He is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Atlanta and a recipient of the "40 Under 40" recognition from both Georgia Trend and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Dr. Fuchko has served as a convocation or commencement speaker at Atlanta Metropolitan State College (and a recipient of its Founder's Day Award) and Kennesaw State University. He has taught at the doctoral level.
He is married to the former Sherie Michelle Lipham of Canton, Georgia, and they are blessed with 12 children. They live in Cumming, Georgia.
Short-Form Biography
Dr. John Fuchko III was named president of Dalton State College, effective Oct. 5, 2023. He began his tenure at Dalton State as interim president in June of 2023 and previously served as interim president of Columbus State University. A longtime professional with the University System of Georgia, Dr. Fuchko's most recent role as vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness built on his previous auditing responsibilities by adding oversight of enterprise risk management, campus consolidation, compliance and ethics, athletics oversight, strategic implementation, accreditation and various other administrative functions. Concurrently, Dr. Fuchko has devoted nearly two decades of service to the Georgia Army National Guard, currently serving as colonel and commander of the 122nd Regiment with two combat deployments and five command tours. A Georgia native, he earned degrees at Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, the National Intelligence University, and the U.S. Army War College – leading up to a doctorate in education from The University of Georgia. Amid his professional accomplishments, he actively serves his church and on several nonprofit organization boards, as well as devotes time to his wife Sherie and their 12 toddler- to college-aged children.