The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents appointed Dr. Georj Lewis as President of Clayton State University effective February 1, 2023.
Lewis was President of Atlanta Metropolitan State College, a position he has held since November 2019 after first being named AMSC interim president on July 1, 2019.
Clayton State has been led by Interim President Kerry L. Heyward since April 6, 2022. With Lewis’ appointment, Heyward will return to her role as University Attorney for Georgia State University, where she is a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
“Clayton State University helps Metro Atlanta thrive with high-level programs, including nursing, and by being the best support for students as they enhance social mobility and advance their dreams and careers,” Lewis said. “It is an honor to work alongside the faculty and staff of Laker Nation to help solidify its reputation as one of the premier Georgia state universities. I am also incredibly grateful for the students, faculty and staff at AMSC. It was an honor to be part of their journey to success.”
dr A native of Southwest Pennsylvania, Georj Lewis has over 28 years of higher education experience and nearly 20 years of service with USG. He began his career in admissions and enrollment coordination, where he coordinated minority recruitment efforts, before leading student diversity efforts at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and then moving into a similar role at Georgia Southern University.
Over the next few years, Lewis held senior positions at Georgia Southern, Indiana University Northwest and the former Armstrong State University. He was vice president of student affairs for Georgia Southern when he became interim president of AMSC in 2019.
Among the awards, Lewis was most recently recognized as a 2021 Pillar of the Profession by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. He also received the Paragon Award for New Presidents from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. During his time at AMSC, Lewis conducted an in-depth study of the enrollment process, resulting in a more efficient and seamless experience for students. He also worked to improve and strengthen partnerships with Metro Atlanta education leaders to support student access to higher education.
Lewis earned both his bachelor’s degree in business administration/accounting and his master’s degree in consulting/student relations from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He received his PhD in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University.