Building Our Future Together

Shaping Augusta University's future begins with a shared vision and is strengthened through collaboration, thoughtful planning, and meaningful engagement.

A comprehensive strategic planning process is underway to help define Augusta University’s aspirations, priorities, and actions for the years ahead. In partnership with Deloitte Consulting LLP, we are establishing a 25-year vision and a five-year action plan to build upon the momentum of our current strategic plan, Creating a Legacy Like No Other.

Use this resource to follow planning progress and find opportunities to participate. Your input is vital in shaping the university’s priorities and future impact across the state of Georgia and beyond.

Governance

Steering Committee

Led by President Keen and provides high-level direction, authority, decision-making, and resources for the strategic planning effort.

photo of Russell T. Keen, EdD

Russell T. Keen, EdD

  • President
  • Augusta University
photo of Ashley May

Ashley May

  • Executive Co-Sponsor
  • EVP, Strategic Effectiveness
  • Chief of Staff
  • Augusta University
photo of Maggy Tomova, PhD

Maggy Tomova, PhD

  • Executive Co-Sponsor
  • EVP, Academic Affairs & Provost
  • Augusta University
photo of Sam Anderson

Sam Anderson

  • Chief Operating Officer
  • SOFtact Solutions
  • Former Ft. Gordon Garrison Commander
photo of Jim Clifford

Jim Clifford

  • City Administrator
  • City of North Augusta
  • Former Ft. Gordon Garrison Commander
photo of Maura Copeland, JD

Maura Copeland, JD

  • Interim VP, Legal Affairs & General Counsel
  • VP, Audit, Compliance, Ethics and Risk Management
  • Augusta University
photo of Susan Davies, PhD

Susan Davies, PhD

  • EVP, Enrollment and Student Affairs
  • Augusta University
photo of Richard Freeman, MD

Richard Freeman, MD

  • Executive Vice President
  • Chief Physician Executive
  • Wellstar Health System
photo of Rob Geoffroy

Rob Geoffroy

  • Chief Property and Planning Officer
  • Augusta National Golf Club
photo of David Hess, MD

David Hess, MD

  • EVP, Medical Affairs & Integration
  • Interim EVP, Research & Innovation
  • Dean, Medical College of Georgia
  • Augusta University
photo of Steven Kendrick

Steven Kendrick

  • Mayor-Elect
  • City of Augusta
photo of Tom Kruse

Tom Kruse

  • Executive Vice President
  • Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
  • Wellstar Health System
photo of Francine Scott

Francine Scott

  • Commissioner, District 9
  • Augusta Commission
photo of Jeffrey Snow

Jeffrey Snow

  • EVP, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement
  • Augusta University
photo of Yvonne Turner

Yvonne Turner

  • EVP, Finance & Administration
  • Chief Business Officer
  • Augusta University

Project Team

Comprising Augusta University and Deloitte Consulting LLP representatives to provide leadership, coordination, and expertise to guide engagement, data-informed decision-making, communications, and the development of the strategic plan.

photo of Mickey Williford

Mickey Williford

  • Project Leader
  • Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness
  • Augusta University
photo of Brittany Cipollone

Brittany Cipollone

  • Project Manager
  • Director of Integrated Planning and Effectiveness
  • Augusta University

Core Design Team

Support key phases of work throughout the strategic planning process by sharing expertise, guiding strategic plan development and refinement, and facilitating alignment of efforts with emerging insights and perspectives of the AU Community.

photo of Kristina Baggott

Kristina Baggott

  • Vice President for Corporate and Community Engagement
  • Augusta University
photo of John Blalock

John Blalock

  • Student Government Association President
  • Augusta University
photo of Bennish Brown

Bennish Brown

  • President and CEO
  • Destination Augusta
photo of Angie Cox

Angie Cox

  • President and CEO
  • Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce
photo of Tiana Curry-McCoy, PhD

Tiana Curry-McCoy, PhD

  • Faculty Senate Chair
  • Augusta University
photo of Kirstyn Denney

Kirstyn Denney

  • Graduate Student Government Association President
  • Augusta University
photo of Laura Evans

Laura Evans

  • Staff Senate Chair
  • Augusta University
photo of Andrew Goss, PhD

Andrew Goss, PhD

  • Associate Provost for Curriculum
  • Augusta University
photo of Lynn Hedrick, PhD

Lynn Hedrick, PhD

  • Co-Director of the Immunology Center of Georgia
  • Augusta University
photo of Kathryn Martin, PhD

Kathryn Martin, PhD

  • Associate Dean for Regional Campuses, MCG
  • Augusta University
photo of Joel McElhannon

Joel McElhannon

  • President
  • South LLC
photo of Brent McMillian

Brent McMillian

  • Director of Athletics
  • Augusta University
photo of Ian Mercier

Ian Mercier

  • President and CEO
  • Medical College of Georgia Foundation
  • Chair of Board of Directors
  • HUB Augusta Collaborative
photo of Tara Montroy

Tara Montroy

  • Assistant Vice President for Budget Planning and Operations
  • Augusta University
photo of Amy Smith, EdD

Amy Smith, EdD

  • Vice President for Enrollment Management
  • Augusta University
photo of Teresa Waters, PhD

Teresa Waters, PhD

  • Dean of the School of Public Health
  • Augusta University
photo of Cal Wray

Cal Wray

  • President
  • Augusta Economic Development Authority

Timeline

Itinerary

2026

Summer 

 

Preparation & Launch: Establish a strong foundation for the planning process, including confirming objectives and the overall approach. 

2026 

Fall 

 

Vision & Design: Assess the current environment, gather input from internal and external stakeholders, and begin defining future-state priorities and recommendations.

2027 

Spring 

 

Finalize & Roadmap: Seek stakeholder feedback on priorities and recommendations, finalize the plan, and prepare for implementation. 

Engagement Opportunities

Help shape Augusta University’s future. More than 200 stakeholders have been engaged via interviews and focus groups. In addition, as part of Augusta University’s strategic planning process, we invite students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, community partners, and other members of Jag Nation to share their perspectives through the Institutional Strategy Survey. Feedback collected will help inform the development of its long-term vision and strategic priorities that build upon the momentum of our current strategic plan while shaping the university’s future direction.

Faculty, Staff, and Student Survey Community Survey

Estimated Time: 15 minutes

You are invited to attend the Comprehensive Strategic Planning Town Hall from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on November 2, 2026. The Town Hall will provide an update on the strategic planning process and highlight emerging themes and ideas shaping the plan’s initial direction. Additional details will be provided soon.

Please check back regularly for additional opportunities to participate in the strategic planning process.

Frequently Asked Questions

No filter applied.
A strategic plan is more than a single document. It includes the institution's mission, vision, values, and goals as well as its indicators of success and the strategic initiatives to guide execution. The strategic plan forms the basis for institutional decision-making and alignment of resources at all levels of the institution.
Although our current strategic plan, Creating a Legacy Like No Other, remains in place through 2027, planning for what comes next starts now. Beginning early gives us time to engage the university community, consider the changing landscape of higher education, and build a shared vision for Augusta University's future. Together, we are defining a bold direction for the next 25 years that builds on our strengths and advances our mission of education, research, clinical care, and service.
The university is simultaneously implementing its current strategic plan and developing its future strategic direction. The new plan will build on the goals and momentum of Creating a Legacy Like No Other while expanding our focus to a longer-term vision that will help guide Augusta University's next 25 years.

Please see the high-level timeline provided above and the details below.

  • Summer 2026: The team focused on the Preparation and Launch Phase by completing several project management activities to build a foundation and structure for the work ahead.
  • Fall 2026: The team will focus on the following phases:
    • Discovery and Analysis: Establish a more quantitative and qualitative understanding of the current state of Augusta University by assessing metrics that articulate both the successes and opportunities for improvement that matter to the university and hearing directly from members of the AU community. The deliverable of this phase will be a current state assessment report summarizing the findings.
    • Visioning and Design: Develop strategic priorities that will become the foundation of the plan and associated goals and tactics. This will culminate in an outline of the strategic plan that will require additional refinement.
    • Review and Refine (Start): Make strategic choices about what is missing, needs to be removed, or needs to be enhanced to further develop the plan.
  • Spring 2027: The team will focus on the following phases:
    • Review and Refine (Finish): Continue to refine the plan. The deliverable of this phase will be a full draft of the strategic plan.
    • Finalize and Roadmap: Transition from strategy creation to implementation. The deliverables of this phase will be a final strategic plan and implementation roadmap that guides the university in turning strategy into action.
Everyone in the Augusta University community has a role to play in shaping the university's future. Throughout the planning process, there will be multiple opportunities to share ideas and provide feedback through surveys, town halls, focus groups, and other engagement activities. Visit the Engagement Opportunities section to learn more about upcoming opportunities and how to get involved.
Augusta University has partnered with Deloitte Consulting LLP to support and facilitate the university’s comprehensive strategic planning process. Deloitte provides strategic planning expertise, data analysis, benchmarking, and engagement support, while Augusta University’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners, and leadership provide the knowledge, perspectives, and priorities that will shape the plan. Together, this partnership is helping develop a 25-year vision and a five-year action plan that reflects the aspirations of the university and the communities it serves.

The strategic planning process is designed to create a shared vision for Augusta University's future and a clear path for achieving it. More than a planning document, the strategic plan will serve as a decision-making framework that helps align the university's priorities, resources, and actions over time.

The process will produce several tangible outcomes, including:

  • A 25-year vision that articulates the university's long-term aspirations and desired future state.
  • A strategic plan that outlines the priorities and goals needed to achieve that vision.
  • A five-year action plan that identifies the initiatives and actions that will begin bringing the vision to life.

Together, these outcomes will help guide decision-making, resource allocation, and institutional priorities across Augusta University.

For questions, please email strategicplanning@augusta.edu.