Shelley Nickel, vice chancellor for planning and implementation for the University System of Georgia, will be the 2015 Commencement speaker for Georgia Perimeter College’s May 8 ceremony.

The ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Since January, Nickel has been a lead partner in the consolidation of Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia State University. She has been engaging with GPC faculty, staff and students and participated in  town hall and community meetings at GPC campuses.

“Georgia Perimeter College is delighted to have Shelley Nickel as our commencement speaker this year,” says Rob Watts, GPC’s interim president. “Shelley has had a distinguished career in state government, serving chancellors and governors in senior-level positions. Most recently, she has led the six institutional consolidation projects within the University System of Georgia. I have worked closely with Shelley for many years.  She understands the transforming power of a college education, and she is committed to improving student success at all University System institutions.”

Nickel has held leadership roles for the state for nearly two decades. Her previous experience includes serving as associate vice chancellor of the University System of Georgia , leading Gordon College as interim president , and directing the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. As part of Nickel’s experience in supporting student success, she also served as president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

A native of Pennsylvania, Nickel’s early career in government included positions in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Pennsylvania State Senate, the Governor’s Office of Budget and Administration, as well as several positions in county governments.

She earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Community Development, both from Penn State University. Nickel received an Alumni Fellow award from her alma mater in 2007 and is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

She is also a member of the College of Liberal Arts Alumni Society Board.

Georgia Perimeter expects 2,023 students to be eligible to participate in GPC’s 2015 Spring Commencement ceremony, according to Doug Ruch, GPC associate director of institutional research. The oldest graduate in the group is 73; the youngest is 16.