See Sonny Perdue's application to be chancellor of University System of Georgia

Former Gov. Sonny Perdue's application to be chancellor of the University System of Georgia is now public, courtesy of an open records request from a citizen journalist.

The application includes a two-page cover letter and a four-page biography, and was shared publicly through MuckRock, which allows users to file and share public record requests. The documents were requested by Brian Bannon.

"If you are like most people, I imagine you have mused to yourself or openly to others, “why does Sonny Perdue want this job?” That a valid and important question, to which I gladly respond," Perdue wrote at the beginning of his cover letter. "While I am keenly interested in serving as your next Chancellor, I cannot say that I pursued or 'wanted' this job. When I was initially approached to measure my interest, I simply said that I wanted the University System of Georgia to secure the best Chancellor available."

Perdue goes on to discuss his own background in the State Senate working on the HOPE Scholarship before elaborating on key issues for USG.

"Unfortunately, Georgia and its University System are not immune to the challenges of modern day higher education, with which you as Regents are all too familiar," he writes. "How will USG maintain the student focused quality of education that is paramount while satisfying the other constituencies interested in the quality and results of this important enterprise?"

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Perdue concludes by re-iterating that his goal is to have USG have the very best Chancellor possible. 

"If you, the Regents, determine that leader to be me, I commit with all my being to never cause you to regret that decision," he writes.

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A spokesperson for the USG system did not respond to phone calls or emailed questions.

Perdue's biography highlights his time as governor of Georgia, as well as his time in the Air Force, as a veterinarian, agribusiness work, and time as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Donald Trump. 

The public records request asked for "Sonny Perdue’s application, interview transcripts and supporting documents submitted as part of his selection as Chancellor of the University System of Georgia" as well as any correspondence between the members of the Board of Regents.

The USG Office of Legal Affairs initially said there were no emails between Regents, but on Wednesday updated the request with a single, undated email to Regent Thomas Hopkins. The email is just a link to an article in the Athens Flagpole from May 2021 titled "Ten Reasons Sonny Perdue Shouldn't Be Georgia's Next University Chancellor."

The only other document released beyond the letter and biography was a 121-page background check of news coverage and social media referencing Perdue, dated Feb. 8 of this year. The check notes opposition from faculty and students as well as the fact that the original company hired to conduct the search withdrew.

Last June, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the search process for a new chancellor had been paused with 17 candidates under consideration while the board visited the proposal to consider Perdue. More recently, the AJC reported that Perdue's salary will be $523,900, the same as his predecessor.