UGA’s Athletic & AcAdemic leAders

Josh Brooks, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics

Josh Brooks was named J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Jan. 6, 2021, after serving 11 years at UGA most recently as Interim Director of Athletics and Senior Deputy Director of Athletics.

Brooks returned to UGA in 2016 as Executive Associate Director of Athletics after serving as Deputy Athletics Director at the University of Louisiana Monroe from 2015-16 and Director of Athletics at Millsaps College from 2014-15.

Prior to his tenures at Millsaps and ULM, he had served in capacities at UGA as Director of Football Operations (2008-11) and Assistant and Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations (2012-14).

On January 20, 2021, Brooks pledged $100,000 to create a need-based scholarship that will support UGA students from Athens-Clarke County. His gift will create a Georgia Commitment Scholarship (GCS), adding to the more than 550 endowed, need-based scholarships created under the GCS program since its launch in January 2017.

During his time at UGA, Brooks worked closely with former Director of Athletics Greg McGarity overseeing internal and external for all athletic operations. He has served as the liaison with the Office of University Architects office on all athletic construction projects and with several campus departments as well as the president’s office. His responsibilities at UGA have included overseeing the departments of facility support, graphics and design, and turf management.

He has been involved in the scheduling of future football games as well as overseeing bowl game operations. In addition, his responsibilities included assisting with the development and management of facilities, new construction projects for the Athletic Association, and planning the 2013 Jason Aldean Concert in Sanford Stadium. Brooks has also served as the sport facilitator for football and men’s and women’s track and field and cross country.

During his time at Millsaps, Brooks revamped the Major game-day experience. He created the kid’s zone, specialized concessions, and partnerships with youth sports leagues. Partnerships with the Jackson Public Schools, the Jackson Zoo, the National Guard and the Boy and Girl Scouts of America added to game days. This enhanced experience helped Brooks solicit over $100K in sponsorship opportunities. Brooks also established a department-wide fundraising campaign that led to a 150 percent increase in Major-Club donations. Capping off this fundraising campaign was the creation of a standalone Hall of Fame event at the Capital Club and the Mary Ann Edge Golf Tournament held at Patrick Farms golf course.

The Majors also saw great athletic success in Brooks’ first year. The Majors enjoyed two SAA regular season championships, captured by the men’s soccer team and the women’s basketball team. The Millsaps’ baseball team also earned a trip to the West Regional tournament. The student-athletes also shined in the classroom in Brooks’ first year. Millsaps’ student-athletes had an overall grade-point-average of 3.0 in the 2014-15 academic year. Over 130 Majors’ earned Academic All-Conference honors.

Brooks also served as director of football operations at the University of LouisianaMonroe beginning in 2004, and in 2007 ULM became bowl eligible for the first time in school history after beating Alabama. Brooks gained experience as a student at Louisiana State University, working as an equipment manager and a student assistant coach. During his four years at LSU, the Tigers participated in the 2000 Peach Bowl, 2002 Sugar Bowl, and won the 2001 Southeastern Conference championship.

A native of Hammond, La., he graduated from LSU (’02) with a degree in Kinesiology and completed his Master’s degree in Sport Management from The University of Georgia (‘14). He and his wife, Lillie, have twin sons, Jackson and James, born in July of 2009 and a third son, Davis, born in March of 2012.

Jere W. Morehead, President

President Jere W. Morehead began his tenure as the 22nd University of Georgia President on July 1, 2013. Under his leadership, the University has risen in the rankings of the best public colleges and universities and has completed a series of initiatives to enhance student learning and success, including a requirement for experiential learning for all undergraduates.

Additionally, the University completed the most successful capital campaign in its history, raising $1.45 billion, and launched an Innovation District initiative to create UGA’s campus of the future, where students and faculty will partner with industry to generate ideas and solutions to continue the University’s role as a powerful driver of economic development in Georgia. During President Morehead’s tenure, UGA has increased its research expenditures by 41% and has been ranked among the top five universities in the U.S. for research-based products reaching the marketplace for the past five years. UGA was ranked No. 1 in the nation for FY2017.

In keeping with his focus on student success, President Morehead launched the ALL Georgia Program to support students from rural areas and created the Double Dawgs program, which enables students to save time and money by earning an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years or less. UGA graduates are in demand: in 2019, 95% of graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

President Morehead has served the University of Georgia since 1986 in both faculty and administrative roles. Before becoming President, he was Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost from 2010 to 2013. Prior to 2010, he held several key administrative assignments, including Vice President for Instruction, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Associate Provost and Director of the Honors Program, and acting Executive Director of Legal Affairs.

He is the Meigs Professor of Legal Studies in the Terry College of Business, where he has held a faculty appointment since 1986. He is a co-author of several books and book chapters, including The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business, and he has published scholarly articles on legal topics ranging from export controls to jury selection. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the American Business Law Journal.

President Morehead serves as Co-Chair of the University Leadership Forum, a national initiative led by the Council on Competitiveness. He also serves as Vice Chair of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors, a member of the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee, and a member of the NCAA Board of Governors. He previously served on the NCAA Presidential Forum; the Working Group on Name, Image, and Likeness; and the Federal and State Legislation Working Group. He is Vice President of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and a member of the SEC Executive Committee, and formerly chaired the SEC Working Group on Compliance, Enforcement, and Governance. Additional service includes membership on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Research Alliance, University System of Georgia Foundation, Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, and Emory University Candler School of Theology.

He has received several University-wide teaching awards, including the Josiah Meigs Award—UGA’s highest honor for teaching excellence, the Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Teacher of the Year Award in the Terry College of Business, and the Lothar Tresp Outstanding Honors Professor Award.

President Morehead holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a law degree from the University of Georgia.