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Atlanta — May 6, 2011

As anticipated with its announcement two weeks ago of Henry “Hank” M. Huckaby as the lone finalist for the job, today the Board of Regents named him as the chancellor-designate of the University System of Georgia (USG). The regents made their decision in a special called meeting today.

Huckaby, 69, will take up his duties as the System’s 12th chancellor on July 1, 2011, following the June 30 retirement of current Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr.

“As has been noted in numerous articles and editorials in the press statewide, clearly Hank Huckaby is seen as the person the System needs at this important time,” said Board Chair Willis Potts after the Board’s vote. “We feel he will serve the University System, the Board of Regents, and the State well as we address the many and significant challenges of the present and prepare for the future.”

Regent Kessel Stelling, who served as the chancellor search committee chair, said, “I share Chairman Potts’ enthusiasm for this appointment and anticipate continued great things for the University System under Rep. Huckaby’s leadership.”

Huckaby said, “I am especially appreciative of and honored by the action of the Board of Regents. I pledge to them my total support and commitment as together we work to meet the challenges and opportunities for the University System.”

He noted his long career in Georgia government: “During all of those years, 17 of which were in the University System, did I ever imagine being or aspire to be the chancellor. So for me, this is the culmination of a lifetime of work for this University System and for the State of Georgia.”

Huckaby was born in Spalding County, Georgia and grew up in Hapeville. His career has focused on a long record of public service to the state of Georgia in many areas of government.

Huckaby was a student in the University System, earning both a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA in International Business from Georgia State University, as well as pursuing additional graduate studies at the University of Georgia. He earned an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Young Harris College.

During the 1960’s and 70’s, Huckaby taught at the college level, including DeKalb College (now Georgia Perimeter College) and Emory University. He also has lectured at UGA and Young Harris College.

He also has served in a number of key administrative positions within the USG, including early in his career in the area of admissions at Georgia State University (1967-71) and Gordon College (1972-73).

Later, Huckaby was director of the Fiscal Research Program at Georgia State University (1995-97), director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at UGA (1997-2000), senior vice president of Finance and Administration at UGA (2000-06), and a special assistant to the president at UGA on a part-time basis (2006-09).

Huckaby’s career goes beyond his long association with the University System. He also has extensive experience in state finance, serving in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, first as a senior policy coordinator from 1973-75, and then as its director, from 1991-95, where he was responsible for overseeing the state budget on behalf of the governor. He also served as the interim chief financial officer for then Gov. Sonny Perdue during Perdue’s transition period.

During his career, Huckaby has been tapped on two occasions to head other key state agencies. From 1977 to 1980, he was commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and from 1980 to 1991, he was the executive director of the Georgia Residential Finance Authority. During his tenure at both agencies, Huckaby was elected by his peers to serve as president of their respective national organizations.

Huckaby was sworn in this past January to represent Georgia House District 113 as a Republican. His legislative experience also includes a stint as the director of the Georgia State Senate Research Office from 1975-77.

He has written articles related to state and national finance and budgeting and has held membership in a number of higher education and government-related business, housing, health care and financial associations.

As an involved resident of Oconee County, Huckaby has been active in a large number of civic organizations in the community. He is currently a member of the Oconee County Rotary Club, the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and the Management Committee of the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir and serves as a Trustee of the Ty Cobb Educational Foundation.

As a former resident of Douglasville, Huckaby also was active in the local community and was named the 1995 Douglas County “Man of the Year.”

He also is active in the United Methodist Church and has held numerous positions at both the conference and national level.

He maintains ties to Young Harris College, where he serves as a trustee.

Huckaby and his wife, Amy, have two grown children and six grandchildren.

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