The Mercer University Board of Trustees Executive Committee has appointed a 12-member Presidential Search Committee and charged it with the responsibility of identifying and recommending a successor to the University’s 18th president, William D. Underwood.

Underwood, who is completing his 19th year as president, informed the Board of Trustees at its April 25 meeting that he is returning to full-time teaching at Mercer Law School in 2026. He is a tenured member of the law faculty and will hold the Tommy Malone Distinguished Chair in Trial Advocacy.

“The members of the Presidential Search Committee have agreed to invest the time and effort necessary to define and conduct a search process that will identify candidates to be Mercer’s next president,” said Board of Trustees Chair Thomas P. (Tom) Bishop. “The board is grateful to have such a talented and experienced group doing this important work.” 

The Presidential Search Committee will be led by former Board Chair Richard A. (Doc) Schneider of Atlanta. Other members of the committee, who are all current trustees, include:

• Cathy Callaway Adams of Kennesaw, chair of the Executive Committee and a former board chair

• Robert F. (Bob) Hatcher of Macon, a Life Trustee and former board chair

• Rev. James C. (Jimmy) Elder Jr. of Columbus

• David E. Hudson of Augusta, former board chair and chair of the Presidential Search Committee that recommended Underwood in 2005

• The Honorable W. Louis Sands of Albany

• William A. (Tony) Moye of McDonough, a former board chair

• Amy Miller Wall of Shreveport, Louisiana

• Dr. Jennifer Nunn Tarbutton of Sandersville

• David E. Linch of Atlanta

• Carolyn Townsend McAfee Bruner of Macon, Life Trustee

• Bishop, of Kennesaw, will serve ex officio 

“Twenty years ago, a Presidential Search Committee found a transformational new leader for Mercer, leading to tremendous growth in the size of its student body, its emergence as a national research university and its impressive campus footprints in Macon, Atlanta and all across the state of Georgia,” Schneider said. “Now, a new Presidential Search Committee, comprised of a talented and diverse group of dedicated Mercerians, takes up the exciting assignment of finding Mercer’s 19th president. We look foward to our work and we are Mercer On Mission once more. We are thankful to President Underwood for his long and impactful service.”