THOMASVILLE – Southern Regional Technical College President Jim Glass has appointed Ralph Griffith as the new interim dean of industrial technology, effective June 1.
According to a university press release, Griffith has been with the university for nearly 20 years as the department chair of Design & Construction and the Drafting Technology program chair. As the department chair of Design & Construction, Griffith supported SRTC’s mission by providing high-quality programs and instruction that meet the needs of local industry. He supported faculty in the Drafting Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Carpentry and HVAC Technology programs and served as a liaison between the dean and department faculty. As the Drafting Technology program chair, Griffith established and fostered relationships with local industry, assisted graduates in job placements, fostered relationships with students and maintained the program’s accreditation documentation and management reports.
Griffith holds a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Development, an Associate of Applied Science in Drafting Technology, and an Advanced Drafting Diploma. He is currently studying for a Master of Science in Workforce Education and Development. Prior to his previous position at SRTC, Griffith worked for Pennyworth Homes as an architectural draftsman and was later promoted to corporate construction manager, overseeing construction supervisors in a region spanning South Carolina to northern Florida.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Griffith has played key roles within SRTC and contributed significantly to various committees and leadership teams. Notably, he coordinated and led the Georgia Master Teacher Experience 2024 and served as chair of the Georgia Technical College System Education Faculty Consortium Committee Drafting Technology Group for five years. His leadership has ranged from curriculum planning for the quarter to semester conversion of the Drafting Technology program to 17 years of participation on the SRTC Institutional Effectiveness Committee. As a member of the SRTC Southern Association of Colleges and Schools College Leadership Team Committee, Griffith organized and hosted accreditation visits. Griffith’s dedication to academic excellence and technical education has been recognized with several awards, including the 2011 Rick Perkins Award for Southwest Georgia Technical College.
“SRTC is fortunate to have someone with Ralph Griffith’s extensive experience and dedication to both education and industry standards as interim dean of Industrial Technology,” said SRTC President Jim Glass. “His longstanding commitment to students and faculty, as well as his proven leadership in building relationships with industry, make him the ideal candidate to lead our Industrial Technology program.”
In his role as interim dean of Industrial Technology, Griffith will be responsible for overseeing all programs within the School of Industrial Technology, including HVAC Technology, Automotive Collision and Repainting, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Civil Engineering, Drafting Technology, Electrical Work and Maintenance, Industrial Systems Technology, Machine Shop Technology and Welding and Joining Technology.