Tom Fanning Named Sole Finalist for University System of Georgia Chancellor
Former Southern Company CEO, Thomas A. Fanning, has been named the sole finalist to take over as Chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG). This unexpected appointment comes as a replacement for Sonny Perdue, the former governor of Georgia, with the final vote on the decision scheduled for October 1.
Despite having limited experience in higher education, Fanning has garnered some support from faculty members due to his extensive business background. Derrick Lemons, a professor at the University of Georgia, highlighted the similarities between the University System and a large corporation, emphasizing the system’s management of 25 schools, a multi-billion-dollar budget, and a workforce of around 50,000 full-time and 47,000 part-time employees alongside nearly 382,000 students.
As USG faces future challenges and critical decisions, Fanning’s corporate strategy experience may play a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education in Georgia.
