Rick Crawford to join Shorter University faculty in August

July 8, 2011 - Dr. Sabrena Parton, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Shorter University, today announced that Rick Crawford will be joining the university’s faculty in August as assistant professor of political science. In addition to his teaching post, Crawford will continue to serve as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, a position he has held since 2007. Crawford comes to Shorter after having been in private law practice in Cedartown, Ga., from 1993 to 2011. He also served as chief magistrate judge in Polk County from 2002 to 2003, judge for the Municipal Court of Cedartown from 1993 to 2000, and judge for the Municipal Court of Rockmart from 1996 to 2003. He has been active in the Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges and served several terms on its executive committee.

Crawford holds a J.D. degree from the Georgia State University College of Law, where he served on the Moot Court Board; he also has earned a Master of Arts in political science from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Arts in music from Jacksonville State University. He did work toward the Master of Divinity degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and also has completed all requirements except a dissertation for a Ph.D. in political science.

An active member of his community, Crawford has served as president of the Kiwanis Club of Cedartown, president of the Exchange Club of Cedartown, and as chairman of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Leadership Polk County, as well as the regional economic development program of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. He and his wife, the former Susan Pinkard, live in the Fish Creek Community with their two children.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges, and The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degree programs in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, master’s programs, and online courses and degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.

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