Thomas C. Meredith
The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 2001 and 2002.
Thomas C. Meredith began his appointment as Chancellor of the University System of Georgia on January 1, 2002. In this capacity, he is responsible for the state's 34 public colleges and universities. The University System has more than 217,000 students, 35,000 faculty and staff, and an annual budget of $4.5 billion.
Prior to his appointment in Georgia, Meredith had served as Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of The University of Alabama System since June 1997. In that capacity, he was responsible for three doctoral research universities, with a combined enrollment of 40,000 students, 17,000 employees, and an annual budget of $1.8 billion.
A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Meredith served from 1988 to 1997 as president and professor of education at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He joined that institution from The University of Mississippi, where he had served as adjunct professor of higher education, executive assistant to the chancellor and vice chancellor for executive affairs from 1984 to 1988. Before that, Meredith had served as an academic programs officer and as associate director for programs and planning for the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1974 to 1984. The Chancellor has taught at Jackson State University, Mississippi State University and The University of Mississippi.
Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies from Kentucky Wesleyan College, a Master of Arts degree in education administration and supervision from Western Kentucky University, and a Doctor of Education degree in administration and supervision with an emphasis in secondary and higher education from The University of Mississippi. He also completed the Institute for Educational Management program at Harvard University and participated in the Higher Education Roundtable at Oxford University.
A staunch supporter of cooperation and collaboration among all education entities, Chancellor Meredith advocates the importance of innovative public-private partnerships. He stresses the fundamental importance of accountability as a core responsibility of educators and administrators.
The Chancellor serves on numerous civic and corporate boards. He was recently appointed by Governor Barnes to the Southern Regional Education Board and was elected in June 2002 by his peers to serve a two-year term as President of the National Association of System Heads.
The Chancellor and his wife, Susan, have two married sons. Mark recently graduated from medical school and Matthew has completed his first year of law school.