Atlanta — April 6, 2022

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue today has named Kerry L. Heyward interim president of Clayton State University following the resignation of President T. Ramon Stuart.

Heyward currently serves as university attorney for Georgia State University, where she is a member of the senior leadership team.

“Clayton State University is focused on being a regional powerhouse in metro Atlanta, helping to meet the workforce needs of its community while supporting students toward their degrees,” Perdue said. “Kerry will continue this momentum as we work with the campus community to search for a new president to lead the university.”

Heyward has been with Georgia State for more than 20 years. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing all legal matters including advising the university’s president and senior administrators regarding legal issues. She represents Georgia State in legal proceedings and negotiations, including overseeing litigation management and corporate transactions, assessing legal risks of university activities and making policy recommendations to reduce those risks. She also oversees the provision of legal services regarding personnel matters, student issues, research, compliance, intellectual property, real estate and athletics.

During her Georgia State career, she has been involved in a number of significant matters for the university. This includes its successful defense of a copyright lawsuit of national significance for universities involving complex issues of fair use, as well as numerous real estate acquisitions and developments such as 25 Park Place, 55 Park Place, the football practice facility at 188 Martin Luther King Boulevard and the acquisition of Center Parc Stadium (formerly Turner Field).

“I appreciate Chancellor Perdue’s confidence in me and look forward to supporting Clayton State’s faculty, staff and students on their mission to make Laker Nation a force in higher education,” Heyward said. “The university’s campus community has already done so much to support student success and I can’t wait to join them on that journey.”

Heyward started at Georgia State in 2000 and was named university attorney in 2007. Prior to that, she was an associate at a private law firm specializing in transactional law, estate planning and tax law.

She earned a B.A. from the University of North Florida, where she served as president of the Student Government Association, and her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. Heyward is admitted to practice in both Florida and Georgia.

Stuart has served as Clayton State president since July 1, 2021. He was previously provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Fort Valley State University.

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