Communications

External Affairs Division

Wilheit Named Chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Atlanta — November 13, 2013

Regent Philip A. Wilheit Sr. thumbnail
Regent Philip A. Wilheit Sr.

The Board of Regents, the 19-member governing body for the University System of Georgia, today elected Regent Philip A. Wilheit, Sr. to a one-year term as the Board’s Chair. Wilheit currently serves as vice-chair.

“We have a fine group of people leading the university system during this time of change,” said Wilheit. “I am grateful to my colleagues on the board for this opportunity.”

Wilheit is the president of Wilheit Packaging and Marketing Images. He received a B.A. in English from the University of the South-“Sewanee” in 1966.

Wilheit has most recently served on the Georgia Department of Economic Development Commission and the Commission for a New Georgia. He was a member of Georgia Chamber Transportation Commission and the Georgia Chamber Advisory Committee on School Board Governance.

In addition to his service on the State Board of Education from 1996-1999, Wilheit served for more than 40 years on the board of the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce, with one year as chairman and more than 20 years on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, serving as its chair for one year. He also served as chairman of Leadership Georgia in 1990.

Wilheit chaired Gov. Nathan Deal’s campaign for governor and served as treasurer for his campaigns for 28 years. He also served on former Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Economic Development Commission and water task force.

During 2012, Wilheit served as the Board’s chair of the finance and business operations committee and chair of its Shared Services Center.

He and his wife, Mary Hart, have two adult children and three grandchildren.

Regent Larry Walker chaired the committee that developed nominations for board officers for the coming year. Committee members were Regents Ben Tarbutton and T. Rogers Wade.

The board also elected Regent Neil L. Pruitt, Jr. for a one-year term as vice chair.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of 31 public colleges and universities, Georgia Archives and the Georgia Public Library Service; enrolling more than 314,000 students.

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