A new dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences has been named at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Sciences. He is Dr. Brian Mann, who has served as the interim dean since February 2025.
The appointment builds upon Mann’s continued successes advancing the institution’s educational mission which has included overseeing Simulation Centers and Anatomy Labs across all three locations (Philadelphia, Suwanee and Moultrie) since joining PCOM in 2021.
Based in Suwanee at PCOM Georgia, Mann brings extensive higher education and clinical experience to his role, having previously served as director of Simulation Education at Campbell University’s Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine and as a physician assistant at FirstHealth of the Carolinas Convenient Care, the Cleveland Clinic, and other leading hospitals in Northeast Ohio.
In addition to being a certified physician assistant, Mann earned his doctorate in education from A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Mo., and his master’s degree in Advanced Physician Assistant Studies from A.T. Still’s location in Mesa, Ariz.
PCOM’s School of Health Professions and Sciences offers degree-granting programs in physician assistant studies, physical therapy, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, cancer biology, and biomedical sciences.
Gwinnett candidate for governor has bill on data centers
Gwinnett State Representative and Democratic Candidate for governor, Ruwa Romman, has introduced House Bill 1012 that would place a moratorium on new data center projects until 2027. This would provide time for Georgians to vote on the majority of the Public Service Commission seats who make final decisions on energy related projects and enable municipal, county, and state level officials to update their policies before we permanently alter the landscape of our state.
She says: “This is a common sense measure that allows us to take a breather before permanently altering the landscape of our state. It gives us time to assess the impact of these projects and look at updated figures for the actual revenue these data centers provide. It also lets us look into the actual impact on our water supply and work to prevent another Tri-State Water War. This is particularly important because, for the first time in 35 years, we are not in significant litigation over our shared river systems with Alabama and Florida.”
Here are key facts about the bill:
- Only applies to data centers;
- First legislation of its kind in a state legislature;
- Moratorium only applies to new data center projects;
- Will begin once the bill is signed and end March 2027; and
- Is simply a breather to provide adequate time to assess the impact of these data centers
Rep. Romman serves on the Energy, Utility, and Telecommunications committee. This bill is part of the Representative’s efforts to bring down utility rates for Georgians. Last year, she introduced House Bill 617 that would reestablish the Consumer Utility Council, an office dedicated to protecting Georgia consumers.
New GGC baseball coach is Goodale
Tommy Goodale has been named the third head baseball coach at Georgia Gwinnett College. Goodale most recently was an assistant coach at perennial junior college powerhouse LSU Eunice. He returns to Lawrenceville after being an assistant coach during the Grizzlies’ successful 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Goodale replaces Jeremy Sheetinger, who departed after six seasons for a leadership position within Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals minor league complex in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Between positions at GGC and LSU-Eunice, Goodale was the first base coach and outfield instructor at Division I Murray State University for the 2024 season. The Racers set team records with 464 runs scored, 591 hits, 102 home runs, and 437 runs batted in while compiling a 37-20 record.
Goodale’s coaching career started at St. Ambrose University (Iowa). Goodale earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, with an emphasis in leadership, from St. Ambrose in 2018 and a master’s degree in sports management from Southern Mississippi in 2020.
GGC is scheduled to begin the 2026 season on January 30 with games against Rust College (Mississippi) and Midway University (Kentucky) at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.
