by Kat Friedmann

The Georgia Perimeter College Alumni Association has gained the input and expertise of three new board members. In June, the association inducted three former students to serve two-year terms.

The Alumni Association Board works closely with the Office of Alumni Relations to set the strategic direction of the alumni program, identify meaningful ways to connect current and former students and to support student scholarships through fundraising efforts.

The new board members are:

Ron Shaw—Shaw is a member of the first graduating class of DeKalb College (now Georgia Perimeter College), earning his degree in 1966. After attending DeKalb College, Shaw completed his bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Georgia in 1968 and his Master of Education at Georgia State in 1976. He’s worked at DeKalb College/GPC for 33 years as a career counselor and is currently a Student Affairs counselor at the Newton Campus.

“Since I was in the first graduating class of DeKalb College, I felt I could contribute to the alumni board,” says Shaw. 

Throughout his long commitment with the college, Shaw has seen students and campuses come and go, but he says one thing hasn’t changed: the way the college views its students and how it helps them to be successful.

Kathy Fowler—Fowler graduated from DeKalb College in 1971 with a degree in liberal arts. She completed her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations at Georgia State University and her Master of Education at the University of Georgia.

Fowler recently retired from Georgia Piedmont Technical College, where she served for several years as the director of economic development and marketing.

“DeKalb College meant a lot to the students of my generation,” says Fowler. “The convenient, affordable classes made it possible for many who may not have had the opportunity to attend college to have the opportunity to do so. That has not changed. I was impressed those many years ago with the caliber of classes at DeKalb College, and from what I understand from current students at Georgia Perimeter, that caliber has not changed.”

In addition to serving on the alumni board, Fowler is an active board member of Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful, past chairman of the board for Newton County READS Inc. and past president of the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce.

“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to represent the college and encourage others to participate in friend- and fundraising,” says Fowler.

Jeff Fucito—Fucito is a certified public accountant and partner with the accounting firm Mauldin & Jenkins. He attended GPC’s Dunwoody campus for his freshman year, then transferred to the University of Georgia, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in 1985.

At Mauldin & Jenkins, Fucito specializes in finance and governance of educational nonprofits and foundations.

“I would like to give back to GPC,” says Fucito. “It gave me the start to continue on to UGA and graduate.  Without this start, I would not have had the career I enjoy today.”

Fucito also serves his community in several capacities. He is chair of Georgia Society of CPA’s Nonprofit Conference Committee and advises the Kennesaw State University Policy and Governance Committee and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.  He also serves on the Cobb Chamber Finance Committee.