GEORGIA STATE’S NEXT PRESIDENT
The University System of Georgia is conducting a search for the next president of Georgia State University following the resignation of President Mark Becker last September. Becker’s 12-year tenure has vaulted Georgia State into a nationally recognized position as one of the most innovative, student-centered institutions in the U.S. It is in the midst of a period of unparalleled growth and development in which it has markedly increased enrollment and graduation rates, significantly enlarged its research enterprise and set fundraising records. READ MORE >>
We are the No. 1 public university in the U.S. for our commitment to teaching.*
*U.S. News & World Report, 2021
We are the No. 3 most innovative university in the U.S.*
*U.S. News & World Report, 2021
Bill Gates said, “No other university has accomplished what Georgia State has the last decade.” (2017)

A National Leader
As one of 26 institutions in the University System of Georgia, Georgia State is a national leader in introducing innovative programs that help students earn their degrees and ensuring students from all socioeconomic backgrounds achieve academic success at the same rates. Our national search seeks someone with the knowledge, energy and skills to lead the institution to even greater heights.
54,000+
200,000+
6
10,000+
EACH YEAR
$2.6 Billion
ON METRO ATLANTA
84
Presidential SEARCH COMMITTEE
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) named members of the Georgia State University Presidential Search Committee on Oct. 29, 2020. The committee will conduct a national search to replace Mark Becker, who will leave as president at the end of June 2021.
Members of the Presidential Search Committee are as follows:
- Regent Neil L. Pruitt Jr., committee chair
- Regent and Board Chairman Sachin Shailendra
- Regent Sarah-Elizabeth Langford Reed
- Regent Rachel B. Little
- Regent Lowery Houston May
- Regent T. Dallas Smith
- Regent Philip A. Wilheit Sr.
- Neda Barqawi, Ph.D., Georgia State alumnus, chief executive officer and managing director, Knovalytics
- Michelle Brattain, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of History, College of Arts & Sciences
- Carol Cohen, assistant vice president for university advising, University Advisement Center
- Cynthia Cornelissen, Ph.D., director, Center for Translational Immunology; professor and associate director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences; distinguished professor
- Donna Frazier, freshman admissions counselor III; chair, Staff Council
- Catherine Henson, J.D., Georgia State alumnus, former chair, Georgia State Foundation Board of Trustees
- Kevin Lofton, Georgia State alumnus, chief executive officer emeritus, CommonSpirit Health; member, Georgia State Foundation Board of Trustees
- Rodney Lyn, Ph.D., interim dean, senior associate dean for academic and strategic initiatives, associate professor, School of Public Health
- Arun Rai, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor, J. Mack Robinson Chair of IT-Enabled Supply Chains and Process Innovation; director, Center for Digital Innovation; Computer Information Systems Department, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
- Sally Robertson, professor of theater, interim chair, Theater/Fine Arts Department, Perimeter College; member, Senate Executive Committee
- Todd Shutley, Georgia State alumnus, executive vice president and chief specialty banking officer, Ameris Bank; chair, Georgia State Foundation Board of Trustees
- Jessica Siemer, graduate student and Ph.D. candidate, Chemistry Department, College of Arts & Sciences
- Andrew Sumner, Sc.D., associate professor, the Joe Taylor Chair in Health Administration, associate professor and director, Institute of Health Administration, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
- Kaelen Thomas, university-wide student body president, Student Government Association
- Anne Tucker, J.D., professor, College of Law; director, Legal Analytics & Innovation Initiative
- Regynald Washington, president, Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail Dining Division North America
Applications and Nominations
Regent Neil Pruitt and the Presidential Search Committee invite nominations and applications (consisting of a letter of interest describing relevant qualifications and experiences, curriculum vitae, and the names of at least five references) to be submitted to Parker Executive Search. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The search committee prefers all nominations and applications be submitted to Parker Executive Search prior to March 1, 2021.
Georgia State University Presidential Search
Laurie C. Wilder, President
Porsha L. Williams, Vice President
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770-804-1996 ext: 102 and 109
www.parkersearch.com
lwilder@parkersearch.com
pwilliams@parkersearch.com
Presidential Search UPDATES
Oct. 29, 2020
Georgia State Presidential Search Committee Named
Contact Us
Laurie C. Wilder, President
Porsha L. Williams, Vice President
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770-804-1996 ext: 102 and 109
www.parkersearch.com
lwilder@parkersearch.com
pwilliams@parkersearch.com

Parker Executive Search accepts, without reservation, the principles of equal opportunity in employment. Parker Executive Search does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin or ancestry, parental status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected basis.