According to the Statesboro Herald, Georgia Southern University President Jaimie Hebert announced Wednesday he will step down effective June 30, to pursue other opportunities. Hebert has served as president of Georgia Southern since July 1, 2016.
“Dr. Hebert is a lifelong champion of higher education and contributed significantly to the creation of the new Georgia Southern University,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “I thank Jaimie for his dedication and service and commend him for his staunch commitment to serving students and supporting faculty. On behalf of the University System, we wish him the very best.”
In April, the Herald and other media outlets reported that Hebert was a finalist to become the senior vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a candidate for provost for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. No announcement was made if Hebert has accepted either of those positions.
In preparation for the transition, Wrigley named Shelley Clark Nickel as Georgia Southern’s interim president. Nickel currently serves as University System executive vice chancellor for strategy and fiscal affairs and treasurer for the Board of Regents. Nickel’s 17-year career with the University System also includes serving as interim president at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Ga.
The University System will conduct a national search for Georgia Southern’s next president. A campus-based presidential search committee will be formed and announced. Members of the committee will include representatives from Georgia Southern faculty, staff, the student body, alumni and the community and will be appointed by Wrigley and Board of Regents Chairman James M. Hull. Nominations for the search committee should be submitted to the Board of Regents.
The campus-based presidential search committee will be responsible for the search and screening of candidates. A Regents’ Special Committee will also be formed and comprised of Board of Regents members.