Biography of Thomas C. Meredith
Thomas C. Meredith began his appointment as chancellor of the University System of Georgia Jan. 1‚ 2002. In this capacity‚ he is responsible for the state's 34 public colleges and universities. The University System has more than 217‚000 students; 35‚000 faculty and staff; and an annual budget of $4.5 billion.
Georgia
(Dec 20, 2002) — Thomas C. Meredith began his appointment as chancellor of the University System of
Georgia Jan. 1‚ 2002. In this capacity‚ he is responsible for the state's 34 public
colleges and universities. The University System has more than 217‚000 students; 35‚000
faculty and staff; and an annual budget of $4.5 billion.
Prior to his appointment in Georgia‚ Meredith served as chancellor of the University
of Alabama system since June 1997. In that capacity‚ he was responsible for three
doctoral research universities that have a combined enrollment of 40‚000 students;
17‚000 employees; and an annual budget of $1.8 billion.
A native of Owensboro‚ Ky.‚ Meredith served from 1988 to 1997 as president and professor
of education at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He joined that institution
from the University of Mississippi‚ where he served as adjunct professor of higher
education‚ executive assistant to the chancellor and vice chancellor for executive
affairs from 1984 to 1988. Before that‚ Meredith served as an academic programs officer
and as associate director for programs and planning for the Board of Trustees of State
Institutions of Higher Learning in Jackson‚ Miss.‚ from 1974 to 1984. The chancellor
has taught at Jackson State University‚ Mississippi State University and the University
of Mississippi.
Meredith holds a bachelor of arts degree in social studies from Kentucky Wesleyan
College‚ a master of arts degree in education administration and supervision from
Western Kentucky University‚ and a doctor of education degree in administration and
supervision with an emphasis in secondary and higher education from the University
of Mississippi. He also completed the Institute for Educational Management program
at Harvard University and participated in the October Higher Education Roundtable
at Oxford University.
The chancellor serves on numerous boards. He was recently appointed by Gov. Roy Barnes
to the Southern Regional Education Board and was elected by his peers to serve as
the president of the National Association of System Heads. Meredith also is president−elect
of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Beginning in 2004‚
he will be the first head of a university system to serve as president of AASCU.
The chancellor and his wife‚ Susan‚ have two married sons. Mark recently graduated
from medical school and Matthew has completed his first year of law school.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
