Satisfy Tim McDonald, Lanier Tech’s new president who researched, taught and even met his spouse at the university

For the past 37 several years, Tim McDonald has assisted learners at Lanier Specialized University find their accomplishment tales — a lot like he obtained his have.

On April 1 McDonald, a Lanier Tech alumnus, became the president of the five-campus institution.

“All of my achievements in daily life was crafted on what I figured out as a university student at Lanier Tech,” he mentioned.

Even right before he dove into his machinist experiments at the school, McDonald said his lifetime was intertwined with the higher education. 

He grew up dwelling following door to Fred Frady, who begun up Lanier Tech’s equipment software program, and even frequented the faculty in the early ‘70s even though on an elementary faculty industry journey.

As a junior at Johnson Large Faculty, McDonald stated he took a vocational aptitude test that pointed him in the route of mechanical-similar positions. In the course of his senior 12 months, he resolved to get his feet wet and attempt out metal fabrication and transportation courses. Whilst ending out high school, he began working element-time for Bill Chandler at Chandler Tools Co., then went on to develop into a full-time workers member immediately after graduation.

Soon afterward, Frady, who experienced still left Lanier Tech, offered McDonald a position at Peerless-Winsmith, a production organization in Flowery Branch. McDonald stated he accepted the task and was recommended by Frady to make a degree at Lanier Tech.

“I was however doing work full-time when I went to college entire-time,” he mentioned. “I took the night time shift position and went to faculty throughout the day.”

Whilst attending college, McDonald claimed he met Dugar Strickland, another person who would have a remarkable effects on his lifestyle.

“I guess he noticed something and not only took an fascination in me and my training, but outside of that,” McDonald mentioned. “He’s the a single that inspired me to implement for the teacher placement when they were being growing the (device device technology) system.”

McDonald went on to come to be an instructor at Lanier Tech in his early 20s, instructing anyplace from 12-16 lessons, which include intro to device equipment, computer-aided production and other folks. 

“For me, it was fulfilling a enthusiasm for me to provide and educate, and assist other individuals stick to their desires,” he said. “After about the third or fourth calendar year, I understood this is what I desired to be undertaking.”

While teaching, McDonald earned a bachelor’s diploma in mechanical engineering technology at Southern Polytechnic Condition College.

Above the program of 25 years, he taught thousands of pupils, a lot of of whom have because started out their possess corporations and pursued professions in manufacturing. 

McDonald mentioned he’ll never ever forget about one student in individual: Matt Dobbs.

He remembers Dobbs, who is a paraplegic and utilizes a wheel chair, approaching him in the early 2000s. 

“He arrived to me, and he reported, ‘I do not want to be a Walmart greeter,’” McDonald recounted. “He wished more.”

By way of the enable of various companies, McDonald said Dobbs was in a position to obtain a chair that would stand his system up, giving him the help he needed to work in the device applications application. 

“He discovered to equipment and has been quite prosperous as a CNC (laptop numerical control) programmer,” McDonald mentioned. 

The Lanier Tech president also remembers his university student Brandon Dornak, who now owns a corporation in Braselton. In 2007, he mentioned Dornak received a SkillsUSA countrywide gold medal.

At his 25-12 months mark as an teacher, McDonald mentioned he arrived to a position in his occupation exactly where he desired to seek out a new horizon. When a dean position opened up at Lanier Tech’s Dawson campus, McDonald recognized he was skilled for the position. 

He said the late Russell Vandiver, who was the college’s vice president of financial enhancement at the time, confronted him about the posture and said, “Boy, you better do it.”

McDonald acquired the job, serving as the Dawson campus dean from 2009-2012. 

He afterwards became the vice president for economic development just after Vandiver was named the college’s sixth president. Although in this function, he acquired his master’s in business enterprise administration from Brenau College. 

In 2016, he went on to turning into Lanier Tech’s executive vice president.

“I was never looking for progress, I required to be the finest I could be for the school,” he mentioned. “The options identified me, and there was generally someone or some individuals at that time that encouraged me.”

McDonald extra that he couldn’t have juggled earning his degrees with his jobs at Lanier Tech without the need of the help of his wife, Kim. Coincidentally, McDonald said he achieved her when she worked for the college or university.