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 41% and has been ranked among the top five universities in the U.S. for research-based products reaching the marketplace for the past seven years. UGA was ranked No. 1 in the nation for FY2019 and FY2017.

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 a record 39,500 applications submitted for a spot in the incoming Class of 2025 and an admission rate under 39%.

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.

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 President of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Chair of the SEC Executive Committee. Additional service includes membership on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Research Alliance, University System of Georgia Foundation, 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.

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Dr. Pharr holds the dual roles of Chief of Staff of the President’s Office and Vice President for Marketing and Communications.

As Chief of Staff, Dr. Pharr provides counsel to the President and serves as the principal liaison with the University System Chancellor’s Office. She also serves as the administrative liaison with the UGA Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, as well as the vice presidents of Government Relations, Development and Alumni Affairs, and Finance and Administration, all of which report directly to the President. In addition, she provides administrative oversight of the offices of Internal Audit and Equal Opportunity, which report through the Chief of Staff to the President.

She further supervises the Assistants to the President, acts as principal liaison with the UGA Foundation, and provides administrative oversight of the President’s Sky Suite during football season and of all special events involving the President. In addition, Dr. Pharr serves on a number of special task forces and committees as the President’s representative.

As Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Dr. Pharr oversees the Division of Marketing and Communications, which partners with key University units to develop research-driven, results-oriented communications, marketing, and media plans that advance University objectives and tell the institution’s story. The division includes Strategic Marketing, Media Communications, WUGA-FM, and the UGA Visitors Center. Dr. Pharr supervises the Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications, who manages day-to-day operation of the division.

Dr. Pharr has risen through the ranks of the University of Georgia since joining the School of Law as its Director of Communications and Public Relations in 1993, following six years in broadcast news. She has served previously as Assistant to the President, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration, Director of Health Sciences Campus Administration, and Associate Vice President for Institutional Affairs.

She holds three degrees from UGA: a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in journalism, a master’s degree in public administration, and a doctorate in higher education management. In 1996, she received the Young Alumnus Award from the Georgia chapter of the Blue Key National Honor Society. Dr. Pharr speaks as an invited guest lecturer for various campus leadership programs on such topics as crisis management, leadership development, and higher education communications.

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Dr. Standifer joined the President’s Office as Assistant to the President in July 2019 and became Deputy Chief of Staff in January 2022. His work focuses primarily on student affairs, diversity relations, and community engagement. He serves as the liaison to the Staff Council, Retirees Association, Board of Visitors, and Student Government Association while also representing the President’s Office in the planning of several annual events, including the Holmes-Hunter Lecture Series, Mary Frances Early Lecture, Staff Appreciation Day, and the presentation of the President’s Medal during Founders Day. Additionally, he oversees the awarding of grants through the President’s Venture Fund. Dr. Standifer serves as the point of contact for inquiries and day-to-day management of the President’s Office and the primary liaison with the University’s Development and Alumni Relations team.

Prior to his role as Assistant to the President, Dr. Standifer served as Director of New Student Orientation and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Georgia. Before joining UGA in 2014, he served at Georgia Southern University in a variety of student-centered roles as a graduate student, including Assistant to the Dean of Students, Coordinator of the Panhellenic Association, and Coordinator of Georgia Southern’s Pathways to Success program.

Dr. Standifer is a member of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2022. He is also a graduate of LEAD Athens, hosted by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Enrollment Leadership Academy, hosted by The College Board. Dr. Standifer emceed the 2019 and 2021 TEDxUGA and remains involved with the International Town Gown Association.

Dr. Standifer earned his bachelor’s degree in middle grades education and his master’s degree in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University. He earned his doctorate in public administration and policy from the UGA School of Public and International Affairs.

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Ms. Davis joined the President’s Office in September 1993 and has served in three administrations in a number of capacities. In her current role as Assistant to the President, her work focuses primarily on facilities, admissions, and athletics. She also serves as the liaison to the UGA Real Estate Foundation, Faculty Admissions Committee, and Georgia Athletic Association. In addition, Ms. Davis is the coordinator of the Senior Administrators Retreat, a member of the Commencement Steering Committee, and liaison to the Office of Special Events for the Presidents Club reception.

Immediately prior to her role as Assistant to the President, Ms. Davis served as Operations Specialist in the President’s Office, providing day-to-day oversight of administrative staff operations, helping to coordinate the President’s SkySuite during football season, and serving as liaison for capital projects and related special events.

Ms. Davis earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia Southern University in 1992 and her master’s degree in public administration from Jacksonville State University in 1993.

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Dr. Moore became an Assistant to the President in August 2021 following three years of service as a doctoral intern and postdoctoral fellow in the Office of the President. His work focuses on executive communications, research and innovation, regional reaccreditation, and strategic planning. He serves as a liaison to the University of Georgia Research Foundation, SACSCOC Leadership Team, and UGA Innovation District. 

Before joining the Office of the President, Dr. Moore served as a Graduate Research Assistant in UGA’s Institute of Higher Education. Earlier, he held a number of posts at Mississippi State University, including Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and Director of Development for the MSU College of Architecture, Art, and Design. He began his career at Mississippi State University serving as an admissions counselor in the Office of Admissions and Scholarships. 

Dr. Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2003 and a master’s degree in public policy and administration in 2009 from Mississippi State University. He earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard University in 2019 and a doctorate from UGA’s Institute of Higher Education in 2020.

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