Atlanta — November 13, 2012

The Board of Regents, the 18-member governing body for the University System of Georgia, today elected Regent William “Dink” H. NeSmith Jr. to a one-year term as the Board’s Chair. NeSmith currently serves as vice-chair.

“Our goal is to graduate more college students, while being good stewards of Georgia’s resources, especially in these times,” said NeSmith. “Challenges are everywhere, and I appreciate the confidence the board has placed in me.”

NeSmith is co-owner and president of Athens-based Community Newspapers, Inc., which publishes several dozen newspapers in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas. A native of Jesup, he is a 1970 graduate of The University of Georgia (UGA) and chairman of the Richard B. Russell Foundation that supports the University of Georgia Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. He is past president of UGA’s Alumni Association. He is an emeritus member of the UGA Athletic Association’s board of directors and the UGA Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is also past president of the Georgia Press Association and former chairman of Leadership Georgia.

NeSmith served eight years on Gov. Perdue’s 20-member Commission for a New Georgia. He is on the board of directors of Athens First Bank and Trust, Southern Mutual Insurance Company, Pattillo Construction Company and the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

During 2012, NeSmith has served as the Board’s vice chair of the executive and compensation committee, vice chair of MCG Health Systems, Inc. and vice chair of the University System of Georgia Foundation.

He and his wife, Pam, have three children and live in Athens.

Regent Doreen Poitevint chaired the committee that developed nominations for board officers for the coming year. Committee members were Regents Neil Pruitt and Larry Walker.

The board also elected Regent Philip Wilheit Sr. for a one-year term as vice chair.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of 35 public colleges and universities, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and the Georgia Public Library Service; enrolling almost 315,000 students.

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