Michael Adams

Michael Adams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in speech and history from David Lipscomb College in 1970. He continued his studies at The Ohio State University, receiving a Master of Arts in communication research methodologies in 1971 and a Doctor of Philosophy in communications with a concentration in educational administration in 1973, where he was recognized as a University Fellow. Adams began his academic career as a professor of political communication and vice president for university affairs at Pepperdine University from 1974 to 1989. He then served as president of Centre College from 1989 to 1997, during which he led major campus renovations, introduced new academic programs in anthropology, sociology, computer science, and classics, established study abroad programs in London, Strasbourg, and Mérida, tripled the endowment to over $120 million, and surpassed a $60 million fundraising goal. His leadership at Centre College also included securing grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation.

From 1997 to 2013, Adams was president of the University of Georgia, overseeing enrollment growth from approximately 30,000 to 35,000 students, expanding the endowment from $250 million to $745 million, creating five new colleges including the School of Public and International Affairs and the College of Public Health, adding 219 endowed professorships, and quadrupling athletic revenue to $92.1 million with 19 national championships. He held significant committee roles such as vice chair and chair of the NCAA Presidents Commission Executive Committee, board member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and American Council on Education, and leadership in the Southeastern Conference. Upon retirement from UGA, he was named president emeritus and Regents' Professor. Adams returned to Pepperdine University as chancellor from 2015 to 2018. His career demonstrated substantial impact on higher education through institutional growth, fundraising success, and advancements in academic administration within the field of education.