Georgia HBCUs in Search of New Presidents: Morehouse, Spelman, Albany State, and Savannah State

Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Georgia are currently in the process of searching for new leaders – four of the state’s 10 HBCUs seek new presidents.

The ongoing searches for Albany State and Savannah State were discussed at a recent Georgia Board of Regents meeting. Details were not disclosed as these sessions are closed to the public and are intended for discussion and deliberation on the hiring process, with no official decisions expected to be made.

Another institution, Morehouse College, which has only had 12 presidents in its history, is particularly notable in the search for a new leader. Current President David A. Thomas announced in July that he will retire at the end of this academic year. Morehouse has published a position profile and is in the midst of candidate interviews, with plans to announce a new president by April. 

Spelman College, which is a private institution like Morehouse, is also seeking a new president. Rosalind “Roz” Brewer has been serving as interim president since October, after Dr. Helene Gayle took a personal leave of absence and later resigned. The college has not yet provided an update on when the search process for a new president will begin, but plans are underway to find a successor.

 The University System of Georgia and its Board of Regents are leading the search for Albany State University and Savannah State University. Lawrence M. Drake II has served as the interim president of Albany State since July, following the departure of Marion Ross Fedrick, who had served as president since 2018. At Savannah State, Kimberly Ballard-Washington resigned in 2023, with Cynthia Robinson Alexander stepping in as interim president.

 The Board of Regents has appointed members to the presidential search committees for both Albany State and Savannah State, which have already begun the initial stages of the search process. AGB Search, a consulting group, is assisting with the searches for both schools. Listening sessions were held at both Albany State and Savannah State in August, where students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders were invited to provide input on the desired qualifications and qualities for the next president. Following these sessions, the search committees will present a list of three to five unranked candidates to the Board of Regents for consideration.

The timeline for selecting presidents for these institutions remains uncertain, but the search efforts continue as each university works to find a new leader to guide them into the future.