Jere Morehead has been selected the next president of University of Georgia by the Board of Regents.
Morehead will be the 22nd President of UGA when he assumes office July 1, 2013.
He will succeed Dr. Michael Adams, who is set to retire June. 30, 2013, after serving as president for 16 years.
Currently, Morehead is the senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at UGA.
"Jere has devoted the bulk of his career to the University of Georgia and he has a great passion for the University and its service to students and the State of Georgia," Board of Regents Chair, "Dink" NeSmith said.
In order to carry out the responsibility effectively, Morehead will be closely evaluating strengths and weaknesses of the university, interacting with other presidents and key constituents and discussing any possible organizational changes.
"Becoming President of the University of Georgia is a dream come true for a UGA graduate who has spent more than half of his life on this campus," Morehead said.
After taking up charge, he will start preparing for a major capital campaign by the university to gather funds from private resources.
As UGA's president, Morehead aims to allocate the budget wisely and focus more on academic priorities rather than athletics.
"While the University of Georgia faces economic challenges, if we focus on our academic priorities we will reach new heights," Morehead said.
Morehead also looked after various faculty and administrative posts and was director of the Honors Program, and acting executive director of Legal Affairs.
Plus, he served as a vice chair of the Georgia Athletic Association board of directors.
Morehead is also Meigs professor of legal studies in the Terry College of Business.
Prior to joining UGA, Morehead worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a U.S. Attorney from 1980-86. He holds a J.D. degree from UGA School of Law, Georgia, 1980.
