Ag News
Brundage named new ABAC president
Posted on May 04, 2022 at 0:00 AM
By Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
On May 3, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) named Dr. Tracy L. Brundage president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), effective Aug. 1. The Board of Regents named her as the sole finalist for the position last week and voted on May 3 to make her appointment official.
Brundage is currently president of Keystone College, a private institution with more than 50 fields of study located in La Plume, Pennsylvania. She has been Keystone’s president since 2018.
Brundage will succeed David Bridges, who announced plans last year to retire after serving as ABAC president for 16 years.
As Keystone’s president, Brundage has managed a $27.5 million budget while restructuring debt and reorganizing the college’s administration to realize an anticipated net surplus for fiscal year 2022. In steering the college through the COVID-19 pandemic, she addressed enrollment challenges by creating strong career pathways and expanding services to mid-career learners. She also implemented a plan that is on target to double the amount of funding available for annual scholarships from the previous fiscal year.
“I’m grateful for the Board’s and Chancellor (Sonny) Perdue’s confidence in me to lead a college that takes such pride in its students and the opportunities to learn hands-on in everything from agriculture to healthcare,” Brundage said. “I understand the role ABAC and its students, faculty, staff and alumni play in local communities and across the state. I can’t wait to join them and get started.”
Under her leadership, Keystone College attained a student success rate of placing 94% of its students in jobs, and many of its programs have a 100% placement rate. Keystone has also evolved to meet the changing educational needs of students. The college, during her tenure, created campus-wide enrollment and retention strategies, opened a Professional Development Institute, expanded experiential learning opportunities and added new high-demand, career-based bachelor’s level and other programs to help meet regional workforce needs.
A native of Scranton, Pa., Brundage holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gettysburg College, as well as a master of education in training and development and a doctorate in workforce education and development from Penn State University.
A recognized expert in the workforce development field, Brundage has 30 years of overall experience in a wide variety of academic and operational leadership, strategic planning and organizational development positions both in higher education and the private sector.
Before being named its president, Brundage served as Keystone’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. In that capacity, she supervised the college’s library, advising & disability services, career services, institutional research & planning, office of grants & specialized programming, Environmental Education Center and adult & online learning. She managed a budget of $10 million, had a team of 13 employees, served on the president’s cabinet and performed the chief administrative officer duties in the absence of the president.
Prior to joining Keystone, she served as vice president of workforce development at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa. A former faculty member at Penn College and the Harrisburg Area Community College, Brundage served as director of Continuing Education at Penn State – York.
She has, among other positions, also served as a corporate trainer and owned and operated the Aurora Leigh Bed & Breakfast in Lock Haven, Pa.
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