Savannah State Update:
- Oversees people capital initiatives, communications, and community affairs for the Atlanta Braves, The Battery Atlanta, and team's spring training facility operations.
- Praised by Savannah State University President Dr. Jermaine Whirl for leadership, vision, and community commitment inspiring graduates to lead with purpose.
- Former senior HR executive at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, First Data, Turner Broadcasting, and roles with Ernst & Young, ADP, HomeGrocer.com, and YUM Brand.
- Active nonprofit leader: Executive Board member of the Atlanta Braves Foundation; Vice Chair of Goodwill of North Georgia; Board Chair of 21st Century Leaders.
- Distinguished author and speaker; holds a Ph.D. in adult education, an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and a bachelor's from University of Georgia.
Savannah State University (SSU) is proud to announce that DeRetta Cole Rhodes, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief People and Culture Officer for the Atlanta Braves, will deliver the keynote address during the spring 2026 commencement ceremony.
The ceremony will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Enmarket Arena in Savannah. Dr. Cole Rhodes will address more than 390 graduates as the university community gathers to celebrate their academic achievements, resilience, and transition into the professional world.
“We are truly honored to welcome Dr. DeRetta Cole Rhodes as our commencement speaker,” said Savannah State University President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. “Today is a celebration of our students—their hard work, their growth, and the achievements that have brought them to this moment. Dr. Cole Rhodes brings a dynamic blend of leadership, vision, and a deep commitment to community—demonstrated through her work with a world-class organization like the Atlanta Braves. Her story is a powerful example of what’s possible, and I am confident her words will both inspire and challenge our graduates to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact wherever they go.”
As executive vice president and chief people and culture officer for the Atlanta Braves, Dr. Cole Rhodes oversees people capital initiatives, communications, and community affairs for the Braves, The Battery Atlanta, and the team’s spring training facility operations.
Previously, she was the executive vice president and chief human resources officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the vice president of human resource at First Data, where she provided consultation on human capital and organizational development strategies for over 5,000 First Data colleagues within Financial Services and Consumer and Network Solutions, the vice president of human resources for Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc., supporting Global Technology Operations. Before joining Turner, she held leadership roles with Ernst & Young, ADP, HomeGrocer.com, and the YUM Brand.
She serves on several boards, including as Executive Board member of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Vice Chair of Goodwill of North Georgia, Board Chair of 21st Century Leaders, and Trustee Member, Governing Board Member, and Human Resources and Compensation Chair of the Woodruff Arts Center.
A distinguished author, Dr. Cole has been a speaker and served on various high-profile panel discussions, including Argyle (Atlanta, Dallas), Marcus Evans, HR Strategy & Innovation Summit, Connect HR Leadership and TedXUGA. She holds a Ph.D. in adult education from the University of Georgia, an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Georgia.
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