UWG Invests Dr. Michael Johnson as Ninth PresidentShare this page
Institution Looks Toward the Future During Historic Week of Engagement
The University of West Georgia officially invested Dr. Michael Johnson as its ninth president Friday morning, culminating a weeklong celebration of scholarship, service, community engagement and institutional tradition that brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, elected officials, community leaders and guests from across Georgia and the nation.
Held in The Coliseum, the Presidential Investiture Ceremony formally conferred the authority and responsibilities of the presidency upon Johnson and marked a new chapter in the university's 120-year history.
“At every important moment in the life of this institution, someone had to believe that the University of West Georgia was capable of becoming more than it had been before,” Johnson said. “They could not have known exactly what this university would become. What they did know was that it could become more.”
Rooted in centuries-old academic tradition, an investiture celebrates the beginning of a president's leadership and serves as an opportunity to honor a university's history while articulating a vision for its future. Delegates representing colleges and universities from across the country joined members of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, civic and business leaders, alumni and friends of the university for the occasion.
The ceremony opened with an academic procession featuring university delegates and institutional leaders, followed by the Presentation of Colors by the United States Marine Corps 4th Combat Readiness Regiment and musical selections performed by the Carrollton High School Trojan Trebles and the University of West Georgia Chamber Singers.
Greetings were delivered by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp via a recorded video message.
“President Johnson brings more than three decades of experience in higher education, along with a commitment to expanding opportunity, supporting student success and preparing graduates for the future,” Kemp said. “As a first-generation college graduate and Marine Corps veteran, he also understands the value of service and the benefit that access to higher education can bring.”
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue formally charged Johnson with the responsibilities of the presidency and presented him with the symbols of office.
“In searching for the next president for UWG, we wanted a leader with the energy and experience to build on the institution’s momentum,” Perdue said. “With Dr. Johnson, we saw a candidate with proven leadership experience who’s both student-oriented and success-driven. ... In his first year, he’s already shown a deep commitment to UWG’s history while evolving to meet the needs of future generations.”
USG Board of Regents Chairman David Dove extended congratulations to Johnson and affirmed the university’s role in educating future generations of Georgians.
“When the board selected Dr. Mike Johnson as UWG’s ninth president, we knew we were choosing exactly that kind of leader,” Dove said. “He has a proven record of institutional growth, academic excellence and putting students first. ... Today, the board formally reaffirms our trust in President Johnson and our commitment to the mission of the University of West Georgia.”
The ceremony’s featured speaker, Dr. Brian Noland, president of East Tennessee State University and a longtime colleague and friend of Johnson, reflected on Johnson's leadership and dedication to student success.
“Leaders of vision appreciate the power of dreams to create hope. Leaders of vision are invested in the long term,” Noland said. “Having worked with Dr. Johnson for more than a decade, I can personally attest that he is a leader of vision. ... Your president brings with him a rich set of experiences to UWG, and those experiences have prepared him well for this role. He believes deeply in UWG’s mission and in the transformative power of that mission.”
The investiture address, delivered by Johnson, focused on stewardship, institutional responsibility and the opportunities that lie ahead for UWG.
Reflecting on the university’s evolution from the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School to the institution it is today, Johnson challenged the audience to think not only about what UWG has accomplished but about what it can become.
“The University of West Georgia began as an agricultural and mechanical school, created to serve the needs of this region,” Johnson said. “It became a junior college. Then a four-year college. Then a university. And today, we stand here as a modern public university serving students from across Georgia and beyond. Our evolution created the institution that exists today.”
Johnson emphasized that the university’s future will be shaped by its commitment to student success, innovation, community impact and public service.
“Ultimately, the measure of a public university is not simply what happens within its walls,” he said. “It is what happens because it is here. Georgia should be stronger because the University of West Georgia is here. That is our purpose, and that’s why I believe our ambition should be nothing less than building a better university for Georgia.”
Throughout the address, Johnson noted that each generation inherits the work of those who came before and bears responsibility for future generations.
“That is the bargain of stewardship,” he said. “We inherit the work of people we never knew, and we do our work for people we will never know. We are the stewards of what comes next. The authority represented by the symbols of this office is not ownership. It is a trust.”
Johnson concluded by expressing confidence in the university's future and reaffirming his commitment to leaving the institution stronger than he found it.
“We don't need to rebuild the University of West Georgia,” Johnson said. “Together, we are going to build a better university for Georgia.”
Friday’s ceremony represented the culmination of Investiture Week, a series of events designed to celebrate the university's history, mission and future that coincided with UWG’s Homecoming Week.
The investiture festivities began Monday with the opening of “Then, Now, Next: Transforming Lives at UWG,” a historical exhibition in Ingram Library tracing the university’s journey from its founding to the present day.
On Tuesday, students and faculty showcased their scholarship and creative work during the Celebration of Student Research and Faculty Spotlight programs, highlighting the innovation and discovery taking place throughout the university.
Wednesday’s Community Service Day reflected the university’s commitment to serving the region beyond its campus boundaries. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners participated in beautification and service projects throughout Carroll County, including landscaping and campus beautification efforts at UWG, cleanup work at Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park, and improvement projects at the Carroll County Animal Shelter.
The celebration continued Thursday at UWG Newnan, where community leaders, elected officials and regional partners gathered for a community breakfast recognizing the university's impact across west Georgia.
The celebration will continue Friday evening at the Downtown Carrollton Community Investiture Celebration at The AMP at Adamson Square. Presented in partnership with the City of Carrollton, the event will feature remarks from city and university leaders, a UWG pep rally and a concert by Atlanta Vice.
Investiture Week concludes as Homecoming Weekend continues on Saturday, when alumni, students and friends of the university return to campus for the Wolves’ Homecoming football game against United Athletic Conference opponent Tarleton State.
Investiture Week concludes as Homecoming Weekend continues on Saturday, when alumni, students and friends of the university return to campus for the Wolves' Homecoming football game against United Athletic Conference opponent Tarleton State.
For Johnson, however, the ceremony – and Investiture Week as a whole – were never simply about an individual. Rather, it was about the people, traditions and shared aspirations that define UWG.
“The measure of our time here will not be how long we served,” Johnson said. “It will be what we made possible. We honor our history not by standing still, but by having the courage to write the next chapter.”
To learn more about UWG and its transformative programs, visit westga.edu.