Atlanta — October 19, 2011

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Max Burns, dean of the Mike Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega since 2008, as the third president of Gordon College. Burns will assume his post on January 1, 2012.

“Dr. Burns stood out from a strong field as the person with the right experience and expertise needed to lead Gordon College,” said USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “We have a strong and growing institution in Gordon College, and his selection as president promises great days are ahead for the College and its students.”

Regent James Jolly, chair of the Special Regent’s Committee for the presidential search at Gordon College in Barnesville, added that, “Dr. Burns has a unique array of leadership experience and governance that will be an asset to Gordon College and the System.”

Burns will replace Gordon College interim president Shelley Nickel, who has served since July 2010 after Dr. Lawrence Weill retired in June 2010. Dr. Weill had served as president of Gordon College since April 2002.

“I am very excited to have been selected as the next president of Gordon College. I appreciate the confidence in me that the board has shown by selecting me as president of Gordon College,” said Burns. “I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, students, and Gordon College community to further the excellence occurring at this institution.”

Burns has also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. Before his appointment as chair, Burns was a candidate for the 12th congressional district of Georgia. He also worked as a senior policy advisor at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C., and served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 12th congressional district of Georgia for one term, 2003-2005. Burns has been a professor at a number of international universities, including: Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Domestically, Burns has taught at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Burns holds a Ph.D. from Georgia State University in business administration, a masters of business information systems from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s of industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, all in Atlanta.

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