Atlanta — June 12, 2002

Regent James D. Yancey today was elected to a one-year term as vice chair of the Board of Regents, the 16-member governing body for the University System of Georgia.

Yancey, who was appointed to the board by Gov. Roy E. Barnes in 2000, will serve as the board’s vice chair from July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003.

“I am proud to assume a position of leadership on the Board of Regents and to be playing an important role in shaping higher education in the state of Georgia,” Yancey said.

He has served as president and chief operating officer of Synovus Financial Corporation, based in Columbus, Ga., since 1997 and chairman of the board of Columbus Bank and Trust since 1998. In addition to these two firms, Yancey also serves on the board of directors of Total System Services, Inc.

Yancey first was elected president of Synovus in 1990. Two years later, he was tapped to serve as vice chairman of the board of directors. Yancey’s relationship with Columbus Bank and Trust dates back to 1959, when he was hired as a teller. He had climbed the corporate ladder to become president of the institution by 1983.

Community service is an important part of Regent Yancey’s life. His leadership roles in this arena have included serving as chairman of the Columbus Board of Water Commissioners (2000-2001); a member of the board of directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce (1990-2000), chairman of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce (1988-89) and campaign chairman for the United Way (1981). He also is a member of the Bankers Roundtable and chairman of the chamber’s Economic Development Committee. In addition, Yancey has served as president of the Metropolitan Boys Club; director of the YMCA; vice chairman of the Southern Open; president of the Green Island Country Club; president of the Historic Columbus Foundation; and a trustee at the Brookstone School.

Yancey graduated from Columbus State University in 1964 and was honored by the institution’s alumni association with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1987. From 1991 to 1992, he served as chairman of the Columbus State University Foundation Board of Trustees, and in 1997, the university selected him to receive its first honorary doctorate. He also graduated from Louisiana State University’s School of Banking of the South and Rutgers University’s Stonier School of Banking.

He and his wife, Ruth, live in Columbus. They have two children: James Brooks Yancey, the owner of Yancey Construction Company, Inc., and Stephanie Brooke Hunter, an attorney.

The Board of Regents is a constitutional body that governs and manages the University System of Georgia, comprised of 34 public colleges and universities. Currently, more than 217,000 students are enrolled in System institutions and there are more than 30,000 faculty and staff.

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