Chancellor Hank Huckaby plans to recommend to the Board of Regents at the November 10, board meeting that Dr. Paul Jones be named president of Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia.

“Paul is a proven, trusted leader within our university system,” said Huckaby. “We recognized Paul was a strong, emerging leader as chief budget officer at Georgia College and State University when we asked him to assume the role of interim president at Darton State College. Paul’s success at Darton, combined with his leadership capabilities, have made it clear he is the ideal candidate to be appointed permanent president of Ft. Valley State University. ”

Further expressing why he is recommending Jones as president of Ft. Valley State University, Huckaby went on to say, “Paul has developed strong, trusted relationships across our university system. Ft. Valley State University and its long-term success is critically important to our university system. With his solid background in finance and fiscal affairs, combined with his proven experience as president within our system, Paul will work to quickly build a close, team relationship with Ft. Valley State University faculty and staff.”

Jones has served as interim president of Darton State College in Albany, Georgia since October 2013. Darton State College is a state college in the University System of Georgia that educates more than 4,300 undergraduate students in associate-degree, limited bachelor’s degree and certificate programs. The college also offers online degrees.

As interim president of Darton State College, Jones has focused on improving the administrative functions of the college by creating an enrollment management division, legal affairs and internal audit departments; restructuring academic divisions into three schools and resolving some audit, accreditation and fiscal challenges.

During Jones’ interim presidency, Darton State College expanded its online degree offerings by adding four new baccalaureate online degrees. He also established new articulation agreements with Albany State University, which allow Darton State College students to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree.

Jones’ background includes serving as chief budget officer and interim president at Georgia College and State University.