The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. John Fuchko III president of Dalton State College effective Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

Fuchko currently serves as Dalton’s interim president.

“Dalton State College was just named #1 in the nation for student experience because of its commitment to helping students prosper, and it deserves a leader who will maintain that momentum as the college continues its climb to being the best in the nation,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “In John, we have just such a leader. He has spent decades in service to public higher education and has demonstrated success in working with faculty, staff and students to achieve great results.”

Fuchko assumed the interim position at Dalton State in June, when Dr. Margaret H. Venable retired after eight years. 

Immediately prior, during the 2022-2023 academic year, Fuchko was interim president at Columbus State University, where he led an effort to address a projected $9 million budget reduction and helped champion a focus on student retention that resulted in an almost 5% retention rate increase from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022.

Fuchko has taken on leadership roles in multiple organizational areas during his 17 years with USG, including service as vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness, overseeing strategic implementation, accreditation, athletics, ethics and risk and various other administrative functions.

“At Dalton State, we are transforming generations of families and improving communities through what we do in higher education,” Fuchko said. “This is something I am passionate about, especially as a second-generation student and husband to a first-generation college graduate. Dalton State is on the rise, and I’m honored to join faculty and staff as we continue to focus on the regional workforce and our students’ success.”