Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson announced Thursday the launch of a new International Center for Technical Education that will enhance the TCSG's global outreach, appointing Dr. Sanford Chandler, current president of Chattahoochee Technical College, to be the assistant commissioner for global initiatives. He'll lead the center, which will operate from the TCSG system office in Atlanta.

International enrollment at Chattahoochee Technical College has grown under Chandler's leadership. He also has championed economic development opportunities resulting from the promotion and creation of education and training partnerships with colleges in other countries.

"I'm looking forward to this new challenge and continuing to make a difference in the lives of students here and abroad. It's my hope that this international initiative will ultimately help to improve the economic and workforce development of our state," Chandler said.

Chandler has guided cooperative agreements between Chattahoochee Technical College and Changzhou College of Information Technology (China); Sanjiang University (China); Hanyang Women's University (South Korea); and Tabuk Community College and Tabuk University, Jeddah Community College, and Abdullah Aziz University (Saudi Arabia). Chattahoochee Technical College also is assisting in a nursing program in Kenya and is in negotiations to partner in a nursing program in Amman, Jordan.

Chandler will transfer to his new position Oct. 1.

Dr. Ron Newcomb, the provost and executive vice president of Chattahoochee Technical College, will serve as the college's interim president until a replacement for Chandler is selected.

Chandler has been the president of Chattahoochee Technical College since November 2008. In 2009, he oversaw the merger of his college with North Metro Technical College in Acworth and Appalachian Technical College in Jasper. The new Chattahoochee Technical College is now Georgia's largest technical college, enrolling more than 20,000 students during the 2011 school year.

Newcomb was the acting president of North Metro Technical College when it merged with Chattahoochee Technical College in 2009; after the merger he became the provost and executive vice president of the college. Earlier in his career, he served as North Metro Tech's vice president of academic affairs and institutional advancement, vice president of student affairs, and vice president for planning and institutional effectiveness.