Dr. Jermaine Whirl, vice president of Economic Development and Corporate Training at Greenville Technical College, was selected by Winthrop University as the 2016 recipient of the Alumni Professional Achievement Award.
This award is presented to an alumna/us who has made significant contributions to his or her professional field while exemplifying high moral and business ethics. The recipient must support the growth and development of Winthrop University and exemplify an outstanding code of ethics, as well as the overall quality concept by which Winthrop University is governed.
A South Carolina native, Whirl began his postsecondary education at Trident Technical College before earning a bachelor’s degree at Winthrop. He went on to earn a master’s degree at Charleston Southern University, a second master’s degree at Armstrong State University, and a doctorate in organizational leadership at Valdosta State University.
Over the last decade, Whirl has served in many capacities in higher education including positions in academic affairs, economic development, and institutional development. He has gained experience at two-year community and technical colleges, private and public four-year institutions, and two Carnegie research level three (R3) institutions, all within the state of Georgia. He was also very engaged with the local community, as he served on education, entrepreneurship, and workforce boards through the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and a host of advisory boards for high schools in the Gwinnett and North Fulton communities.