Georgia Regents Pick First Black Woman As Interim Chancellor
Interim will not be considered in search for permanent chancellor

ATLANTA
Corlis Cummings, currently one of three senior vice chancellors, was named interim chancellor of Georgia’s university system by its board of regents.

She will head the university system after Chancellor Tom Meredith leaves — probably this month — to lead the higher education system in Mississippi.

Cummings, an Atlanta native, has a bachelor’s and a law degree from the University of Georgia. She is the first woman and the first African-American to serve as interim or permanent chancellor of the university system.

Cummings was expected to be named to the position when the board met in Atlanta for its monthly meeting, but Chairman Tim Shelnut announced the decision would be postponed until details about the interim chancellor’s job description could be worked out.

Several members of the board say privately that the delay was prompted by a desire to assure Gov. Sonny Perdue that the board had considered all options, including other candidates, in filling the position.

Shelnut would not say if the governor’s office submitted any other names for it to consider, saying “that really is covered in personnel issues.”

However, he added, “It would be a horrible mistake for us in judgment not to keep the governor fully up to speed on our plans. But, yes, he has certainly met with Corlis and was very pleased with his meeting with her and supports our actions.”

Shelnut says Cumming’s contract as interim chancellor will impose no special limits on hiring or other decisions she may be called upon to make, but the job won’t last long under the current plan.

Although Meredith’s departure is uncertain, his new job in Mississippi takes effect Oct. 1, so Cummings certainly would take charge by then. The board hopes to name a permanent chancellor in December.