Augusta native Brooks A. Keel said it will be "like coming home" after he was appointed Monday to take over as Georgia Southern University's new president on Jan. 1.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted to approve Mr. Keel, currently vice chancellor for research and economic development and professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University.

Dr. Keel, 53, began his schooling in Augusta at Monte Sano Elementary School, continued through Academy of Richmond County and Augusta College (now Augusta State University) and earned a doctorate in reproductive endocrinology from the Medical College of Georgia.

His journey included stops in South Dakota, Kansas, and Texas and he held positions at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and Florida State University before LSU.

While he is excited to be back in his home state, and at achieving a career goal of becoming a university president, he is also excited by what he sees at his new school in Statesboro.

"Georgia Southern is at a point in its development where I think it is really poised to take that next step, that next jump," Dr. Keel said.

He cited the school's recent ranking among doctoral research universities, its growing portfolio of research, and its "student-centered" approach.

"I heard this from the faculty but I also more importantly heard it from the students," Dr. Keel said.

"The students really feel a special relationship with the faculty there and they feel that the faculty view the students in a very special way."

He still has roots in the area. His son, Preston, recently completed an associate degree in pharmacy technology at Augusta Technical College and is looking to enroll at Augusta State, Dr. Keel said. And his mother and two older brothers still live in the area.

"It is truly like coming home," Dr. Keel said.

Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.