UGA Provost Pamela Whitten was named the solo finalist for the position of president of Kennesaw State University by the Board of Regents on Tuesday.
Whitten will make a campus visit to Kennesaw to meet with faculty, staff and students before the Board of Regents makes a final decision on her selection at a future board meeting following the required five business days after the naming of a finalist.
“Together, we can expand successful outcomes and meaningful learning experiences for all students, boost faculty research and provide greater outreach services to improve the quality of life for citizens locally and beyond,” said Whitten. “I look forward to the opportunity to share my story with the KSU community and share KSU’s story with Georgia and the world.”
The decision comes on the heels of the resignation of KSU’s former president Sam Olens who stepped down after less than two years at the university in February. His tenure was marked by controversies, notably a mishandling of student protests concerning the national anthem.
Since 2014, Whitten has served as UGA’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs where she has overseen instruction, research, public service and outreach, student affairs and information technology. Prior to her position at UGA, she served as the dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University.