Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph Falcone as dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences, bringing a decade of leadership at ABAC along with extensive academic and scientific experience.

ABAC President Dr. Tracy Brundage emphasized the importance of Dr. Falcone’s leadership as the school continues to grow and strengthen its academic offerings.

“On behalf of the faculty, staff and students at ABAC, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Falcone as the new dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences,” Dr. Brundage said.

“Having already demonstrated exceptional leadership as interim dean, he understands our mission and the needs of our students. His commitment to academic excellence and program innovation positions the school to expand opportunities, strengthen partnerships and continue building on its strong foundation.”

Dr. Falcone had been serving as interim dean of the school since July 2025. Prior to that role, he served as professor and head of the Science and Mathematics Department from June 2016 to July 2025, where he played a key role in curriculum development, faculty leadership and student success initiatives.

During his tenure at ABAC, Dr. Falcone has been instrumental in establishing and maintaining articulation agreements with institutions such as Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia, helping create a competitive advantage for Bachelor of Science in Biology students seeking admission to medical school. ABAC also participates in the State of Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model, standardizing the transfer of nursing course credits between University System of Georgia institutions. These partnerships provide options for students to gain required credentials and enhance ABAC’s reputation for preparing graduates for advanced study.

In addition to fostering partnerships with other institutions, Dr. Falcone led improvements to the programs at ABAC. One example is the establishment of required internships and undergraduate research for students in the biology program. Internships and research involve a faculty mentoring component, ensuring students are absorbing the most applicable information from their internships and approaching research effectively. These efforts to maximize the hands-on nature of the programs have contributed to ABAC’s reputation for providing high-quality and transformative experiences for students.

Dr. Falcone brings additional experience from prior academic roles at Keystone College and East Tennessee State University, where he contributed to teaching, research and program development across the sciences.

He holds a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics from the State University of New York at Buffalo, providing a strong research and scientific foundation to support the school’s diverse academic programs.

When asked what excites him the most about the appointment, Dr. Falcone focused on how he plans to uplift the people he will be leading.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the new dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences,” Dr. Falcone said. “What excites me most is the opportunity to support and empower our talented faculty, staff and students as we prepare the next generation of compassionate caregivers, innovative researchers and scientific leaders. I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place and creating even greater impact in the years ahead.”

With his experience, institutional knowledge and forward-looking vision, Dr. Falcone is well positioned to guide the School of Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences as it advances its mission and expands opportunities for students.