President

President

Think independently. Lead creatively.

Georgia College & State University is seeking a creative and inspiring leader to serve as its 12th president.

As Georgia’s designated public liberal arts university, Georgia College is committed to providing students with a skills-infused, experience-based, multi-disciplinary curriculum grounded in the liberal arts. Over the last decade, the university has held steadfast in its vision to become a nationally preeminent public liberal arts university. With this intention reflected in the 2016-2021 strategic plan “Our Path to Preeminence,” the university has been active and successful in working toward the goals of attracting and retaining a strong and diverse educational community; enhancing and growing its academic offerings; strengthening relationships within its community; and aligning resources in support of strategic priorities. With an opportunity to set a vision that builds on these achievements, Georgia College seeks an engaged and innovative leader who can capture this momentum and leverage it to secure the university’s position as a leading national public liberal arts university in the 21st Century. 

Initially founded as a women’s educational center in 1889, Georgia College has consistently been a destination for students looking to make a difference in the world and takes great pride in preparing students to think critically and engage in lifelong learning. Located in the beautiful town of Milledgeville and less than a two-hour drive from Atlanta, Georgia College serves about 5,600 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students across five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business, the John H. Lounsbury College of Education, the College of Health Sciences, and the newly-established John E. Sallstrom Honors College. Community-based learning is also a common theme at the university as students, faculty, and staff members of Georgia College collaborate with the communities of middle Georgia to provide invaluable educational experiences for students and make enriching contributions to the local area and beyond. With its sprawling idyllic campus and talented faculty and staff, Georgia College stands at the forefront of offering a holistic liberal arts education. The university has approximately 1,500 employees, with about 260 full-time and 80 part-time faculty, and an annual operating budget of $150M.

Georgia College is one of 26 institutions in the University System of Georgia and consistently ranks among the top three universities in the state in terms of student retention and graduation rates. The university also ranks 9th Public and 21st on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Universities – South and is recognized as a top university in the nation by the Princeton Review, Forbes Higher Education, and Kiplinger’s.

The next president of Georgia College will have the opportunity to lead the university as it further positions itself among national public liberal arts colleges, particularly in this time of great challenge and transition in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with a dedicated community poised for continued momentum, the next president will create and implement a vision for Georgia College that emphasizes an expansive educational experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; the building of a diverse, inclusive, and equitable educational community that upholds the university’s values of respect and responsibility in discourse and actions; strong ties to the local community and partnerships that support and enrich all of its members; and the responsible stewardship and growth of the university’s resources.

Georgia College’s next president must be ready to seize this unique moment for the university and meet challenges with courage and imagination, leading the university in a time of both uncertainty and opportunity. With the national higher education landscape changing rapidly and the need for ingenuity and resources constant, the next president must be innovative, nimble, and intentional in acting as the university’s chief strategist, fundraiser, and spokesperson. The incoming president must bring demonstrated experience working collaboratively and transparently with a diverse set of stakeholders, the ability to build relationships and secure resources on behalf of an institution, and an authentic desire to uphold the values and commitments of Georgia College and its public liberal arts mission.

The Georgia College Presidential Search and Screen Committee will begin to evaluate applications immediately. Candidates should submit materials no later than June 1st, 2021 to ensure fullest consideration. The new president is expected to begin on September 1, 2021.

For more information, please review the full position specification here. Please send all nominations and applications to:

Tom Fitch, Managing Director

Julie Tea, Managing Director

Amanda Bennett, Senior Associate

Storbeck Search

GeorgiaCollegePresident@storbecksearch.com

 

GCSU is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action institution, with a commitment to cultural, racial, and ethnic communities. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. It is expected that successful candidates share in this commitment. For more information, please visit our web page at www.gcsu.edu.