The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Cathy Cox president of Georgia College & State University, effective October 1, 2021.

“Georgia College & State University has long played a special role within USG as the state’s public liberal arts college, and it is gaining a new leader who inherently understands how important that mission is both for students and the state,” USG Acting Chancellor Teresa MacCartney said. “Cathy Cox has deep experience in liberal arts education, and a passion to help Georgia College succeed. I congratulate her on her new role.”

Cathy Cox became dean of Mercer University School of Law in 2017 after serving 10 years as president of Young Harris College.

“I am excited to welcome Cathy Cox into the USG family, and know Georgia College will only keep rising among the ranks of the nation’s best public liberal arts institutions,” Board of Regents Chairman Sachin Shailendra said. “On behalf of the Board of Regents, I look forward to working with her.”

As the 21st president of Young Harris, a private liberal arts college in the north Georgia mountains, Cox led its transition from a two-year college to a four-year institution and oversaw unprecedented growth. Prior to assuming the Young Harris presidency, Cox served two terms as Georgia’s secretary of state, and was the first woman in the state’s history to be elected to the post, first in 1998 and again in 2002. In the spring of 2007, she held the Carl E. Sanders Political Leadership Chair at the University of Georgia School of Law.

“Thank you to the Board and Acting Chancellor MacCartney for this tremendous opportunity,” Cox said. “I am excited to work with an already amazing faculty and staff as we enhance Georgia College as a destination for students seeking a preeminent liberal arts education. I can’t wait to get started.”

Storbeck Search provided consulting services during the president search process.