Atlanta — August 11, 2005

Corlis Cummings, senior vice chancellor of support services for the University System of Georgia, has been named by the Board of Regents as interim chancellor of the state’s 34 institutions of public higher education. Board Chair J. Timothy Shelnut made the announcement today after a special meeting of the board, conducted via conference call.

“Ms. Cummings has the full confidence of this board and we are delighted she has accepted this leadership opportunity,” said Shelnut. “She has the proven experience and skills to keep the System moving forward. More importantly, she works effectively with the regents, is well liked by the University System Office staff and the campus presidents, and can hit the ground running to lay the groundwork for the next chancellor. She is definitely the right person for the job and we will be counting on her a great deal.”

In addition to overseeing her current responsibilities as senior vice chancellor, Cummings will provide overall executive leadership for the University System. Her responsibilities in assisting with the transition will begin immediately, as she works with Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith until his departure.

“This is a tremendous responsibility and I am honored to have been asked by the Board to serve in this role,” said Cummings. “I am looking forward to working with the regents and Dr. Meredith to ensure a smooth transition for the next chancellor. During this critical period, we also will focus strong attention on maintaining close contact with the Governor, members of the General Assembly, and with those state agencies whose work intersects with ours.”

In her current position, which she has held since Sept. 2000, Cummings oversees the System’s legal affairs office, human resources departments, and the Office of Sponsored Funds and Special Projects. Prior to her appointment as senior vice chancellor, she was assistant vice chancellor for legal affairs from 1995 to 2000, serving as an attorney for the board. She handled various legal transactions for the Board of Regents and System institutions, and worked with the staff of the Attorney General’s office and other state agencies.

A native of Atlanta, Cummings earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from the University of Georgia. She attended Washington University School of Law, in St. Louis, and earned her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from The University of Georgia. Cummings is the first female and the first person of color to serve as a chancellor of the University System of Georgia (interim or permanent).

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