The Center for Lifetime Study at Brenau University, which is home to the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute, recently filled two positions on the university’s Gainesville, Georgia, campus.
Tim Bryant assumed the position of executive coordinator of the Center for Lifetime Study in July, while Bill Coates was recently hired in a part-time position as BULLI community coordinator.
The Center for Lifetime Study works with key campus and community stakeholder groups to provide educational opportunities for the entire community. BULLI, featuring established programs in Gainesville and Braselton, is the cornerstone of the center’s professional development, continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Bryant has more than 20 years of progressive, broad-based experience in community and program development and higher education. Prior to Brenau, he established the Center for Ethical Leadership at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and served as the founding executive director. In addition to providing innovative campus leadership development programming for students, he collaborated with the Cincinnati Better Business Bureau and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s premier leadership programs in providing professional development opportunities.
“As a native of North Georgia, I am thrilled to be joining a highly regarded institution like Brenau and working with my colleagues at the Center for Lifetime Study to continue its legacy of providing excellent adult education programs,” Bryant said.
While in Cincinnati, Bryant was dubbed one of Cincy Magazine’s 2013 Outstanding Educators. He previously worked for Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia, where he created the framework for the Center for Appalachian Studies and Community Engagement and worked closely with the Towns County Family Connection Collaborative and regional units of the American Red Cross, Relay for Life and Special Olympics.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in educational psychology from Baylor University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Mercer University.
Coates, meanwhile, received a bachelor’s degree from Coker College, a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate in American literature from the University of South Carolina. He was the longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville prior to retiring last year. In his new role, he is responsible for increasing and enhancing BULLI relationships and memberships through community outreach, programming, sponsorships and teaching.
Coates has taught literature courses as an adjunct instructor at Brenau and taught BULLI courses for 20 years. In his new role, he will teach three term courses per year, assess the demand for academic and social programming specific to target populations in the surrounding area, attract and retain strong membership and volunteer bases, and much more.
“Literature and BULLI are twin passions of mine, and I am especially grateful for the opportunity to become even more deeply involved in the BULLI family,” Coates said.
