Biography of Hank M. Huckaby
Henry “Hank” M. Huckaby was born in Spalding County, Georgia and grew up in Hapeville. His career has focused on a long record of public service to the state of Georgia in many areas of government. He began his service as the 12th chancellor of the University System of Georgia on July 1, 2011.
Huckaby’s involvement with the University System of Georgia began when he was a student. After earning an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Young Harris College, he pursued his education at Georgia State University earning both a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA in International Business. He continued his education through additional graduate studies at the University of Georgia.
During the 1960’s and 70’s, Huckaby taught at the college level, including DeKalb College (now Georgia Perimeter College) and Emory University. He also has lectured at UGA and Young Harris College.
His career in higher education and his involvement with the University System continued with service in a number of key administrative positions. Early in his career, Huckaby worked in the area of admissions at Georgia State University (1967-71) and Gordon College (1972-73). Later, he served as director of the Fiscal Research Program at Georgia State University (1995-97), director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at UGA (1997-2000), senior vice president of Finance and Administration at UGA (2000-06), and a special assistant to the president at UGA on a part-time basis (2006-09).
In a career that goes beyond his long association with the University System, Hank Huckaby has a long history of public service to the citizens of Georgia. His service in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, first as a senior policy coordinator from 1973-75, and then as its director, from 1991-95 has provided extensive experience in state finance. During that time, Huckaby was responsible for overseeing the state budget on behalf of the governor. He also served as the interim chief financial officer for then Gov. Sonny Perdue during Perdue’s transition period.
His commitment to public service during his career led to Huckaby being tapped on two occasions to head other key state agencies. From 1977 to 1980, he was commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and from 1980 to 1991, he was the executive director of the Georgia Residential Finance Authority. During his tenure at both agencies, Huckaby was elected by his peers to serve as president of their respective national organizations.
Huckaby was sworn in this past January to represent Georgia House District 113 as a Republican. His legislative experience also includes a stint as the director of the Georgia State Senate Research Office from 1975-77.
He has written articles related to state and national finance and budgeting and has held membership in a number of higher education and government-related business, housing, health care and financial associations.
As an involved resident of Oconee County, Huckaby has been active in a large number of civic organizations in the community. He is currently a member of the Oconee County Rotary Club, the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and the Management Committee of the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir and serves as a Trustee of the Ty Cobb Educational Foundation.
As a former resident of Douglasville, Huckaby also was active in the local community and was named the 1995 Douglas County “Man of the Year.”
He also is active in the United Methodist Church and has held numerous positions at both the conference and national level.
He maintains ties to Young Harris College, where he serves as a trustee.
Huckaby and his wife, Amy, have two grown children and six grandchildren.