President Morehead headshot

Jere W. Morehead

22nd President of the University of Georgia

President Jere W. Morehead began his tenure as the 22nd University of Georgia President on July 1, 2013. Under his leadership, the University has risen in the rankings of the best public colleges and universities and has completed a series of initiatives to enhance student learning and success, including a requirement for experiential learning for all undergraduates.

Additionally, the University completed the most successful capital campaign in its history, raising $1.45 billion, and launched an Innovation District initiative to create UGA’s campus of the future, where students and faculty will partner with industry to generate ideas and solutions to continue the University’s role as a powerful driver of economic development in Georgia. During President Morehead’s tenure, UGA has increased its research expenditures by more than 50% and has been ranked among the top five universities for research based products reaching the marketplace for the past ten years. UGA was ranked No. 1 in the nation for FY2022.


In keeping with his focus on student success, President Morehead launched the ALL Georgia Program to support students from rural areas and created the Double Dawgs program, which enables students to save time and money by earning an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years or less. A UGA education is in greater demand than ever, with more than 43,500 applications submitted for a spot in the incoming class of 2027, and 6,200 students enrolled in that first-year class.

President Morehead has served the University of Georgia since 1986 in both faculty and administrative roles. Before becoming President, he was Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost from 2010 to 2013. Prior to 2010, he held several key administrative assignments, including Vice President for Instruction, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Associate Provost and Director of the Honors Program, and acting Executive Director of Legal Affairs.

He is the Meigs Professor of Legal Studies in the Terry College of Business, where he has held a faculty appointment since 1986. He is a co-author of several books and book chapters, including “The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business,” and he has published scholarly articles on legal topics ranging from export controls to jury selection. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the American Business Law Journal.


Previous Positions

Held at UGA

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, 2010-2013

Vice President for Instruction, 2007-2009

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, 2004-2006

Associate Provost and Director of the Honors Program, 1999-2004


President Morehead serves as Co-Chair of the University Leadership Forum, a national initiative led by the Council on Competitiveness. He also serves as Chair of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors, a member of the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee, and a member of the NCAA Board of Governors. He previously served on the NCAA Presidential Forum; the Working Group on Name, Image, and Likeness; and the Federal and State Legislation Working Group. He is Past President of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Additional service includes membership on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Research Alliance, Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, and Emory University Candler School of Theology.

In 2021, he received the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District III for outstanding leadership and service in support of education. He has received several University-wide teaching awards, including the Josiah Meigs Award—UGA’s highest honor for teaching excellence, the Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Teacher of the Year Award in the Terry College of Business, and the Lothar Tresp Outstanding Honors Professor Award. He also earned the UGA School of Law’s premier honor for alumni, the Distinguished Service Scroll Award.

President Morehead holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a law degree from the University of Georgia.