Gainesville State College has a new vice president for academic affairs.

Al Panu will take over the post after serving as the interim vice president since June. He came to Gainesville State in 2007 as division chair of Science, Engineering and Technology.

"In a national search, Dr. Panu emerged as a very strong candidate with the experience and leadership skills we need in this position," said Gainesville State President Martha T. Nesbitt.

"Prior to his coming to us, he distinguished himself as an excellent teacher, serving as an associate professor of chemistry and associate dean at Kennesaw State University. There, he was nominated many times for the Distinguished Teacher Award and received this honor in 1998."

Panu's degrees are B.S. in chemistry from Tuskegee Institute, M.S. in chemistry from University of Alabama in Birmingham and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Georgia.

He was a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Emory University and has been active professionally throughout his career, with publications, presentations and grant awards. Last year, he participated in the University System's Executive Leadership Institute.

"I am honored to be afforded the opportunity to continue working with such a great team of faculty and staff, a team dedicated to the success of our students in a nurturing and actively engaging academic environment," Panu said.

"Academic excellence has been a hallmark value at GSC. In my role as vice president for academic affairs, I will do my best to ensure that GSC continues to lead the way."

Panu and his wife, Judith, have three children and live in Mableton.