President Jere W. Morehead sat down with Georgia Magazine in July to reflect on his time as the President of the university and what he sees for the future of the University of Georgia. Morehead is proud of the remarkable period of achievement the university has seen over the past decade.

“What I’m most proud of is that UGA has reached new levels of excellence in every facet of its mission. We’ve been ranked among the top 20 public universities for seven consecutive years, and the number of applications for admission has more than doubled,” said Morehead.

President Morehead is quick to acknowledge that “much of the success begins with the incredible generosity of our alumni and friends, strong support from state leaders, and the hard work of our remarkable faculty and staff.” He continues that “the award-winning faculty are a key part of our success, providing innovative instruction and cutting-edge research.” The students inspire him and he finds interacting with them in the classroom extremely rewarding.

Fast Facts about Jere W. Morehead’s Career at UGA

• He is the 22nd president of the University of Georgia.
• He is the Meigs Professor of Legal Studies in the Terry College of Business, where he has held a faculty appointment since 1986.
• As president, he has continued to teach a First-Year Odyssey Seminar every fall.

“Students also are the foundation of our mission. They represent our future, and UGA has no higher calling than to equip them with the knowledge they need to become leaders in their professions and communities.” – Jere W. Morehead

Morehead’s Impact on UGA

• Morehead has added 100 endowed chairs and professorships.
• The annual R&D expenditures have risen more than 50%, surpassing half a billion dollars. 
• UGA also recently received the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ highest award for public service.

“Our award-winning faculty are a key part of our success, providing innovative instruction and cutting-edge research.” – Jere W. Morehead

Morehead and the Future of UGA

• Morehead plans to continue growing the Active Learning initiative.
• He wants to increase hiring initiatives for teachers and scholars.
• UGA Public Service and Outreach will continue leveraging new partnerships to strengthen communities all across our state.

“…my goal as president has been to make the University of Georgia the No. 1 destination for faculty, students, and industry partners who desire to improve lives through research and innovation.” – Jere W. Morehead

To learn more about Jere W. Morehead’s presidency, read the full Georgia Magazine interview or watch the highlights from the 2023 State of the University speech.