ALBANY, GA - The Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition announces the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. A regional non-profit leader in promoting cancer education, prevention, screening, treatment and research, the Coalition serves 31 counties in south Georgia.
Newest members are Javier Gonzalez, Director of Hispanic Student Support Programs at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC); Robin Rau, CEO of Miller County Hospital and administrator of SWGA Healthcare Partnership; and John “Wink” Strickland, retired chairman of the Clinch County Board of Commissioners and former member of the Homerville City Council. (See bios below)
Bios
Javier Gonzalez - Specializing in promoting educational opportunities for minority students, Javier Gonzalez has more than 17 years experience in public and higher education. For the past eight years he has served as director of Hispanic Student Support Programs at ABAC in Tifton, where he is responsible for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), the High School Equivalency Program (HEP), and grants and scholarships from the Goizueta Foundation.
Mr. Gonzalez serves as president of the board of the National HEP/CAMP Association and is a member of the National Migrant Education annual conference planning committee and the East Coast Migrant Head Start Program board of directors and policy council.
Robin Rau - Robin Rau is the CEO of Miller County Hospital in Colquitt and administrator of the SWGA Healthcare Partnership. Serving in various areas of health care since graduating from the University of Rhode Island, she has been a strong supporter of tobacco control efforts in Miller County and was instrumental in designating the hospital as 100% tobacco free.
Before moving to Georgia, Ms. Rau assisted in the development of a multidisciplinary cancer center at Roger Williams Medical Center in Rhode Island. She is a member of the State Office of Rural Health Advisory Board, Spring Creek Health Cooperative Advisory Board and the Miller County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
John W. “Wink” Strickland - A Homerville native, John “Wink” Strickland is a long-time public servant and advocate for south Georgia. He served as chairman of the Clinch County Board of Commissioners from 1993 until 2008, and was on the Homerville City Council from 1982 until 1992.
Mr. Strickland is a blueberry farmer, and has been married to his wife, Nancy, for 40 years. They have three children and three grandchildren.
