ATLANTA — The University System of Georgia Board of Regents held a final vote Wednesday to confirm Christopher “Mike” Johnson as president of the University of West Georgia.
The chief of staff for the University of Houston (UH) and the UH system will succeed the Carrollton university’s interim President, Ashwani Monga, on Aug. 1.
Monga will return to his permanent role as the university system’s executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer.
The Regents had already voted in late May to name Johnson the sole finalist for president after a seven-month national search.
System Chancellor Sonny Perdue said the vote marked “an exciting new chapter” for the university, home to 14,400 students, with more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and with classes beyond the Carrollton campus, in Douglasville and Newnan.
“It’s a true honor to be named president of the University of West Georgia, and I’m grateful to Chancellor Perdue and the Board of Regents for their trust in me,” Johnson said.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from The Citadel, a master’s degree in higher education from George Mason University, and a doctorate in higher education leadership and policy from the University of Houston’s College of Education.
Johnson previously served as director of development for military programs at Purdue University, where he helped secure over $40 million in gifts, a statement from the Regents’ office said. He also worked with the UH system, state legislators, faculty and others to help secure over $20 million toward establishment of a college of medicine there.