Atlanta — September 13, 2000

Randall A. Thursby, interim vice chancellor for Information and Instructional Technology and chief information officer with the Board of Regents since January of this year, has received the permanent appointment as vice chancellor. “Mr. Thursby comes to this position after long and impressive performance in a variety of positions in the System, and we have every confidence that he will continue to serve the System and its institutions well in this permanent role,” said Chancellor Stephen R. Portch.

Thursby, a resident of Cochran, is responsible for a staff of 135 and the administration of a budget of more than $35 million. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augusta College (now Augusta State University) in 1974. Shortly after that, he took a position at that institution as director of computer services, a position he held until 1986. Thursby then worked at the University of Georgia during the late 1980s, helping to create the organization that later became the Office of Information Technology. That unit was the precursor to the BOR’s Office of Information and Instructional Technology.

Over the ensuing years, Thursby’s career with the BOR progressed from director of administration and planning to assistant vice chancellor for information technology and associate vice chancellor for information technology/associate CIO.

In his various roles with the System, Thursby has been instrumental in the establishment of PeachNet, USG’s first strategic technology plan and a System-wide technology master plan. He also has overseen the technical implementation of major applications systems such as Banner and PeopleSoft, both used extensively by University System of Georgia campuses. In addition, Thursby has worked with the governor’s office in developing the first budget for K-12 and public library Internet connectivity.

Thursby is married to the former Debra A. Holt. They have three children: Michelle, 18; Daniel, 14; and Melissa, 9.

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