The University System of Georgia is set for a huge shake-up as Chancellor Sonny Perdue has announced his retirement from the position, effective January 1, 2027. He is retiring four years into his seven-year tenure. This makes the Georgia governor’s race even more important.
The Georgia governor has the power to appoint members to the Georgia Board of Regents and has influence over the appointment of the next chancellor via the board. The Georgia Board of Regents is the official governing body for Fort Valley State, Albany State, and Savannah State—the only HBCUs in the University System of Georgia.
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In an interview on HBCU Pulse Radio in October, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves made a commitment to put HBCU representation on the Board of Regents, sharing details regarding increasing resource application to HBCUs.
“I’m also committed to making sure that HBCUs in Georgia have a seat on the Board of Regents. When you look at the Board of Regents, brother, just go to the website. Y’all go to the website. Look up the Georgia Board of Regents. These are folks who are making decisions about not only the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. But over Fort Valley State and Savannah State [and Albany State], we have to have representation from HBCUs on that board, and I’m gonna make sure that I appoint people who have attended and graduated from HBCUs.”
Esteves also commented on Purdue’s retirement on his X account, saying, “After hiking tuition for tens of thousands of Georgia students and refusing to pay USG campus workers what they’re worth, Perdue is cashing in on a cushy retirement — courtesy of taxpayers.”
The Georgia gubernatorial primary voting starts on April 27, with the election on May 19.
