The Georgia Board of Regents announced Tuesday morning that Georgia Southern University President Dr. Brooks Keel is the sole finalist to  replace Ricardo Azziz as president of Georgia Regents University in Augusta.

A release said the Board of Regents will take action on the selection of Keel at a specially called board meeting on July 8.

In a statement, Keel said: “It’s an honor to be considered for the role of President of Georgia Regents University,” said Keel. “I love the Eagle Nation and am proud of all we’ve accomplished together. If fortunate to be selected by the Board of Regents, this would be a unique opportunity to return to both of my alma maters that now comprise GRU.”

Crissie Elrick, with Georgia Southern's Marketing and Communications Department, said the university would have no comment on Dr. Keel's selection at this time.

The Board of Regents recently approved a raise for Keel and other presidents in the state university system. As Georgia Southern University president, Keel was scheduled to earn $397,304 in salary this year. The last reported salary for Regents University president Azziz was $675,309 in 2014.

Dr. Keel became the 12th president of Georgia Southern in January 2010, replacing Bruce Grube. Keel was vice chancellor for research and development and a professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University immediately prior to coming to Statesboro. He also held positions previously at the University of Kansas and Florida State University. 

Keel is an Augusta native and earned a Ph.D. in reproductive endocrinology from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, and a bachelor of science in biology and chemistry from Augusta College in Augusta. The two colleges merged to form Georgia Regents College.

Come back to statesboroherald.com for more details as they become available and see Wednesday's Statesboro Herald for the full story.