The president of Miles College, Dr. George T. French, Jr., has resigned to become the next president of Clark Atlanta University, according to a report by AL.com.
Miles College’s board made the announcement Wednesday, with French’s resignation effective Aug. 31.
Clark has a student enrollment double that of Miles, about 3,485 students compared to 1,700.
French will be Clark’s fifth president.
”His development expertise and proven track record at Miles College underscores his ability to continue the strong momentum Clark Atlanta has built,” said Gregory Morrison, Clark’s board chair. “I am confident he will work diligently to advance CAU’s mission and reputation as a premier learning and R2 research institution.”
French has served as the 14th president of Miles for 23 years, since March 2006.
“I am most proud and thankful to God for having been given the opportunity to serve Miles College for the last 23 years of my career,” the Louisville, Ky. native told AL.com.
“The college is in the midst of attaining university status, has more than tripled the campus land mass, is one of the most fiscally viable institutions in the nation, is undergoing academic renewal and is an athletic college of champions, having been recently awarded the coveted Commissioner’s Cup as the strongest male athletic program within the SIAC.”
Miles trustees said they plan to meet over the next several weeks to manage the leadership transition there, an interim president will be named in August and a search for the next permanent president will be conducted during the 2019-2020 academic year.