Cathy Cox becomes president of Georgia College & State University

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ga. -- Cathy Cox Dean of Mercer University School of Law has been named President of Georgia College & State University.

She will take over the role on October 1, 2021.

“Georgia College & State University has long played a special role within USG as the state’s public liberal arts college, and it is gaining a new leader who inherently understands how important that mission is both for students and the state,” USG Acting Chancellor Teresa MacCartney said. “Cathy Cox has deep experience in liberal arts education, and a passion to help Georgia College succeed. I congratulate her on her new role.”

Cox was the dean of Mercer University School of Law in 2017 after she served as the president of Young Harris College for 10 years.

“I am excited to welcome Cathy Cox into the USG family, and know Georgia College will only keep rising among the ranks of the nation’s best public liberal arts institutions,” Board of Regents Chairman Sachin Shailendra said. “On behalf of the Board of Regents, I look forward to working with her.”

Before her time as president of Young Harris College, she served two terms as Georgia's secretary of state and was the first woman in Georgia's history to be elected to the post, first in 1998 and again 2002.

“Thank you to the Board and Acting Chancellor MacCartney for this tremendous opportunity,” Cox said. “I am excited to work with an already amazing faculty and staff as we enhance Georgia College as a destination for students seeking a preeminent liberal arts education. I can’t wait to get started.”