Thomas A. Fanning Named Chancellor of the University System of Georgia

Thomas A. Fanning will become chancellor of the University System of Georgia on Jan. 1, 2027.

ATLANTA - The Board of Regents today named longtime business leader and Georgia Tech alumnus Thomas A. Fanning as the 15th chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG). 

Fanning, who was named the sole finalist for the position last month, succeeds Chancellor Sonny Perdue.

Perdue is retiring Dec. 31 after more than four decades in public service, a career that includes two terms as Georgia governor and four years as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

In his new role, starting Jan. 1, 2027, Fanning will lead one of the nation’s top public higher education systems, which includes 25 colleges and universities, more than 50,000 faculty and staff, and over 382,000 students across the state.

“USG is stronger than ever, and Tom Fanning is the right person to lead us forward,” Board Chair David B. Dove said. “Maintaining our competitive edge during a changing time in higher education takes a leader who knows how to guide big organizations, keep college affordable and position our graduates for career success. We’re deeply grateful for Chancellor Perdue’s decades of leadership in Georgia as we work with him on a smooth transition that will keep our momentum going and deliver the high-skilled talent Georgia needs.”

Fanning brings more than 40 years of leadership experience to USG. He spent over four decades at Southern Company, including 13 years as chairman, president and CEO before retiring in 2023. As CEO, he led the second-largest utility company in the country, serving about 9 million electric and gas customers across nine states.

Fanning joined Southern Company in 1980 as a financial analyst and went on to hold 15 distinct leadership roles, including chief information officer, chief financial officer for Georgia Power, Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, and CEO of Gulf Power Company.

In addition to his corporate career, Fanning has held major national and regional leadership roles, serving as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and chair of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Advisory Board.

A product of the university system himself, Fanning earned both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the institution. His connection to Georgia Tech spans decades, including service on the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees, the Georgia Tech Advisory Board and the Scheller College of Business Advisory Board. In 2023, the Board of Regents named Georgia Tech’s Student-Athlete Performance Center in his honor to recognize his longstanding support and service.

“Sonny Perdue devoted his career to making Georgia a better place to live, learn and work,” Fanning said. “I’m grateful for his remarkable service and the strong foundation he built across the state and among our 25 institutions. As a proud USG graduate, I know firsthand the transformative power of this system. Alongside our regents, presidents, faculty and staff, my priorities are simple: ensure college stays within reach, support groundbreaking innovation on our campuses and graduate the high-caliber talent — from engineers and teachers to healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs — who drive Georgia’s economy forward.”

More on the Web:

Valdosta State University: https://www.valdosta.edu/