Regents tap new leadership for Clayton State, first African American to lead the university

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has named T. Ramon Stuart president of Clayton State University, effective July 1.T. Ramon Stuart was recently selected by the Board of Regents to lead Clayton State University. As he shifts into the president’s chair, Stuart prepares to assume the helm of managing the schools 7,000-student body.

“I am excited for this opportunity and can promise our campus communities that I will do everything I can to support you and ensure Clayton State continues to rise,” Stuart said. “The Board of Regents and Chancellor Wrigley have shown great confidence in me, and I look forward to showing a lot of Laker spirit.”

Stuart comes to Clayton State from Fort Valley State University (FVSU) where he served as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs for the past five years. In that role, he was responsible for the Academic Affairs division which included the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and Professional Studies, and College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. He also had leadership responsibility for Student Success, Retention Services, the Hunt Memorial Library, Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness, and the Quality Enhancement Plan, among other departments.

Prior to joining FVSU, Stuart was a faculty member at West Virginia State University where he developed an engineering 2+2 degree program, aided in increasing retention by almost 10% in three academic years, served on the self-study reaffirmation steering committee responsible for achieving a 10-year reaccreditation and helped to increase overall enrollment by expanding international recruitment.

Stuart earned his doctorate in higher education administration from the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education at Ohio University. He earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University.

In a statement, Chancellor Steve Wrigley said, “Dr. Stuart brings outstanding experience and a passion for helping students to a campus that is poised to expand on its success and become a regional powerhouse in metro Atlanta.”

Stuart’s appointment follows the retirement of President Tim Hynes, who led the university for 12 years.