About President Don Green

Dr. Donald J. Green became the 11th president of Valdosta State University on August 1, 2026. (The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia officially selected him for this leadership role on May 22, 2026.)

Green’s vision for this university is simple, bold, and unwavering — VSU is going to be the premier higher education destination in South Georgia and beyond. At the helm of VSU, he plans to drive meaningful improvement through a number of initiatives focused on growing enrollment, increasing retention by supporting student success, transforming curriculum and research by building forward-looking academic programs, and serving as a better community and industry partner.

Green has a clear vision and ambitious goals for VSU’s future, and he is committed to shaping that future in partnership with the campus and surrounding communities. He believes that the university’s greatest progress will come through shared ideas, collaboration, and collective leadership.

Green’s Experience Before VSU

Green served as the fifth president of Gordon State College from 2023 to 2026. He spearheaded the college’s “Fast Forward” Strategic Plan, a three-year roadmap to accelerate student degree completion and align academic offerings with the evolving labor market. Under his leadership, the college surpassed many of its strategic objectives a full year ahead of schedule, placing the institution on a strong financial footing while driving philanthropic giving through the Gordon State Foundation to historic highs.

Green’s focus on the campus experience produced significant student milestones, including a 7.5 percent increase in enrollment during Spring 2026 and a record Fall-to-Fall retention rate of 64.5 percent in 2025, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. To keep students on track, he introduced proactive “Success Plans” and intensive advising models that prioritize timely graduation, culminating in a record-breaking Fall 2025 commencement that saw a 19 percent surge in degrees awarded. Under his leadership, Gordon State celebrated its largest commencement in a decade on May 15, 2026.

Beyond academic programming, Green focused heavily on campus revitalization, overseeing the expansion of undergraduate research opportunities and comprehensive renovations to student residence halls. By positioning the college as a “talent pipeline” for central Georgia, he focused on the power of a degree to transform the financial trajectory of local families and the regional workforce.

In September 2014, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia named Green the fourth president of Georgia Highlands College, where he served until taking the helm at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2021.

Before Georgia Highlands College, Green served in several leadership roles at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, and held administrative and teaching posts at Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also previously ran a consulting firm that specialized in training and education.

Green holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Michigan State University, a master’s in labor and human resource management from Ohio State University, and a Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from Western Michigan University.