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In 2019, George T. French Jr. became the fifth president of Clark Atlanta University, the largest United Negro College Fund (UNCF) member institution in the country and the largest private HBCU within the state of Georgia.

Prior to his appointment, French served for 14 years as the president of Miles College, making him one of the longest serving university presidents in the nation. A nationally recognized leader and influencer in higher education and educational policy, French has served three secretaries of education under two United States presidents as a congressional appointee to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity.

He is a three-term board member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Chair of the Atlanta University Center (Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College and Morehouse School of Medicine,) Council of Presidents; and chair of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC) Council of Presidents and member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) Board of Directors. French also has served as a member of the national diverse council of Regions Bank since 2011.

Education: University of Louisville, Miles Law School (J.D.), Jackson State University (Ph.D.)

Notable achievements: Under French’s leadership Clark Atlanta University has exponentially exceeded all fundraising records in the history of the university; maintained stable enrollment in the midst of global pandemic and developed corporate and community relationships to position the university for unprecedented growth.

His awards include Birmingham Spotlight Man of the Year, NAACP Man of the Year, and the Higher Education Leadership Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.