Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has officially named the Allied Health and Sciences building as the Donald K. Balfour II Health & Sciences Building. The new name honors Donald K. Balfour II, a longtime public servant and business leader whose impact helped shape both the college and the state.
The naming was celebrated during the April 27 ceremony attended by Dr. Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, along with campus leaders, elected officials and community members.
Addressing the audience, Balfour emphasized that while you can get caught up in the bricks and mortar of buildings, it’s all about the students walking around the campus. That sentiment reflects his long-standing commitment to expanding access to higher education, an effort that helped bring GGC to life in 2005, when Gwinnett County’s need for a four-year institution became a reality.
A seasoned executive and public servant, Balfour brings more than four decades of leadership experience. Born in New Jersey in 1957, he earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Bob Jones University in 1980 and completed graduate studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1981.
He spent 40 years as an executive with Waffle House, developing expertise in operations, leadership and organizational growth. In public service, he served 22 years in the Georgia State Senate, including as chairman of the Rules Committee.
During his legislative tenure, Balfour sponsored the legislation establishing GGC and supported numerous initiatives benefiting the institution. He also played a key role in major statewide efforts, including legislation enabling development of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4.
On the national stage, Balfour served as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures from 2009 to 2010, helping foster collaboration among state legislatures across the country. Following his time in elected office, he continued his executive career as senior vice president of Ohio River South and remains engaged in civic efforts through The Carter Center, where he serves as the lead Republican in the Georgia Democracy Network.
The Donald K. Balfour II Health & Sciences Building now serves as a hub for GGC’s growing programs in health, science and technology, supporting student learning, research and community engagement.
This marks the second named building on campus. The first, the Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman Library & Learning Center, was dedicated in 2016 in honor of founding president Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman.
For more information, visit ggc.edu.