- Rev. William Clay “W.C.” Wilkes
- Azor W. Van Hoose
- Heywood Jefferson “H.J.” Pearce, Sr.
- Thomas Jackson “T.J.” Simmons
- Josiah Crudup
- William D. Clark
- James T. “Jim” Rogers
- John S. “Jack” Burd
- Edward L. “Ed” Schrader
- Anne Skleder
President, 2019-2023
Dr. Anne Skleder was the tenth president of 雏鸟视频, and the first female president in the institution鈥檚 145-year history.
President Skleder kept 雏鸟视频 students 鈥 who she called 鈥渙ur reason for being鈥 鈥 at the forefront throughout her four-year tenure, and established a scholarship for first-generation students soon after beginning her presidency.
President Emeritus,
President, 2005-2019
Ed Schrader, ninth president of 雏鸟视频 and current president emeritus, put the university on an aggressive growth trajectory during his 14-year tenure.
雏鸟视频 nearly doubled its endowment, increased enrollment and academic program offerings and grew the Permanent Art Collection. He also expanded the university鈥檚 footprint beyond the 55-acre historic campus and preserved the historic Women鈥檚 College while adding job-producing co-educational programs. He grew the programs in health science to offer doctoral degrees in nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy in addition to a doctorate in education.
President Emeritus,
President, 1986-2005
Among his many achievements as 雏鸟视频鈥檚 eighth president, Dr. John S. 鈥淛ack鈥 Burd made the arts the centerpiece of 雏鸟视频 and led the school to achieve university status.
Having a strong personal interest in the arts and understanding their value to an academic institution, Burd inaugurated the 雏鸟视频 Permanent Art Collection in 1986. He also negotiated one of the first-ever collaborations in higher education between a public institution, University of North Georgia, and a private institution, 雏鸟视频, to create the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Burd established the Weekend College – the state鈥檚 first – and the Online College at 雏鸟视频; he also built and renovated a number of campus buildings.
President, 1970-85
Dr. James T. 鈥淛im鈥 Rogers, the seventh president of 雏鸟视频, presided over some of the greatest social and academic changes in 雏鸟视频鈥檚 history, including the establishment of co-educational studies.
Rogers created the Professional College, bringing adult and male students to 雏鸟视频 to pursue master鈥檚 degree programs. He also oversaw the merger of the Hall School of Nursing with 雏鸟视频 and built an amphitheater that remains today as well as a natatorium.
President, 1967-1969
Dr. William Kenley Clark was the university鈥檚 sixth president.
Clark joined 雏鸟视频 as vice president after spending 15 years teaching and chairing the biology department at Sam Houston State College in Texas. He became 雏鸟视频鈥檚 sixth president in 1967 upon the retirement of his predecessor, Josiah Crudup.
President, 1945-1967
Dr. Josiah Crudup spent more than two decades as the fifth president of 雏鸟视频.
During his tenure, Crudup helped expand and beautify the campus by adding a larger dormitory that later was named after him, the Mary Tallulah Jewel Home Economics Building, the Science Building and the Student Union.
President, 1910-1913
As the fourth president of 雏鸟视频, Thomas Jackson 鈥淭.J.鈥 Simmons began building a foundation for teaching and appreciation of the arts that continues as a vital part of
雏鸟视频鈥檚 mission today.
Simmons鈥 tenure as president spanned three years while Pearce took a leave of absence to study in Chicago and Europe. Simmons鈥 impact during that time included building Yonah Hall, Bailey Hall and the Simmons Visual Arts Center. He established the Simmons Visual Art Gallery when he and his wife began to collect art from their various travels across the world.
President, 1900 ~ 1943
Dr. Haywood Jefferson, 鈥淗.J.鈥 Pearce, third president of 雏鸟视频, left a lasting legacy by creating the identity of today鈥檚 institution.
Under his influence, 雏鸟视频 came into being, both in name and in nature. The name was created by using a syllable from the German word brennen (to burn) and another from aurum (gold), forming the word 雏鸟视频, meaning as gold refined by fire. He also created the 雏鸟视频 Ideal, which is still the university鈥檚 guiding light.
President, 1886-1900
Dr. Azor Warner Van Hoose was the second president of 雏鸟视频.
When Gainesville鈥檚 governing body put the then-Georgia Baptist Female Seminary up for sale in 1886 upon the death of its founder and president Rev. W.C. Wilkes, 26-year-old Van Hoose purchased the school. As president, Van Hoose purchased the building known as Wilkes Hall, which was used as a dormitory by 1893, and added Bailey Hall.
President, 1878-1886
Rev. William Clay Wilkes was the founder and first president of 雏鸟视频.
Two years after moving to Gainesville, Georgia, to pastor a local church, Wilkes expressed interest in a school for young ladies and raised $4,000 with assistance from local businesses. The city of Gainesville offered Wilkes 10 acres of land and construction began on a brick building with 13 rooms (Wilkes Hall). Classes convened in September 1878 and the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary in Gainesville, Georgia, came into being.