Leadership

Piedmont University is guided by a balanced group of committed, capable, and caring individuals – including the office of the President, board of trustees, and senior administrators. These leaders work in concert to ensure that Piedmont maintains its commitment to all-around excellence.

The board of trustees, president, and senior administrators work together to harness the vision for Piedmont as a dynamic, inviting university that offers a variety of career-oriented majors in the arts and sciences, business, education, and nursing. The University works to deliver on that promise. Piedmont’s 400-acre home campus in Demorest combines with our cosmopolitan Athens campus to fulfill the educational and life goals for students in all phases of life.

Board of Trustees

Piedmont University is governed by its board of trustees. The board provides oversight and guidance to the institution’s administrative leaders. With 24 members plus two alumni trustees who serve a 3-year term, and 11 trustee emeriti, the board is responsible for reviewing the long-term strategies, operations and performance of the university.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for providing governance and oversight of Piedmont University and for identifying, deliberating and acting upon matters of strategic importance to the university’s well-being and successful achievement of its mission and goals.

Officers
Thomas A. Arrendale, III, Chairman
Dock C. Sisk '72, Vice Chairman
Sandra G. Borrow, Secretary

Trustees
Thomas A. Arrendale, III*, Chairman
Lisa Black MA ’01, EdS ’07
Sandra G. Borrow*
Dr. Martha K. Cantrell '80
Matthew E. Cook '96
Walter Crowder
Dwight H. Evans*
David C. Foster '88
Mack H. Guest, III
Ladson Haddow
Thomas M. Hensley, Jr.*
James C. Hobbs, III
William M. House
Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund
Mylle Mangum*
Kimberly D. Melton
Dr. Larry Peevy
Joseph M. Piper '95
Reverend Dr. Tom M. Richard '70
The Honorable Brian Rickman '98
Michael Santowski '06
Dock C. Sisk* '72
Barbara Strain
Mary Hart Wilheit

Executive Committee
Designated Trustees:
Marshall Criser, President
Cale Padgett ’09, President, Alumni Association
Kanler Cumbass ‘ 19, Alumni Association Trustee

Trustees Emeriti:
Dr. Edward D. Ariail, ’80, DBA ‘94
Reverend Dr. Elizabeth E. Bingham
Dennis T. Cathey, Esq.
S.N. Charles Cho, M.D. '57
The Honorable John C. Foster '69
The Honorable Steve C. Jones
Shirley J. Meeks '72
Paul C. Rosser
Dr. H. Milton Stewart, Jr.
Jane Higdon Ballard '70
D. Stewart Swanson

President Marshall Criser

Overseen by the board, Piedmont University is led by the 14th President, Marshall Criser. President Criser's illustrious career includes serving as chancellor of Florida's university system for eight years – where he led the system to a No. 1 ranking in the nation. Prior to serving as chancellor, President Criser was a distinguished business leader as president of AT&T Florida.

Senior Administrators

Piedmont's administrative and academic operations are managed under the leadership of four senior administrators. These leaders help make Piedmont University the unique place that it is through their hard work and dedication to the school and all involved.

Vickie Turner
Vice President, Academic Affairs
Phone: 706-778-8500 x2838
Email: vturner@piedmont.edu
CAMPUS: Demorest
EDUCATION: MPA, BA, Piedmont University

Kim Crawford
Vice President, Student Affairs
Phone: 706-778-8500, x1050
Email: kcrawford@piedmont.edu
CAMPUS : Demorest
EDUCATION : EDd, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; MAT, Georgia College & State University; BA, Reinhardt College

Kristie Harris
CFO and Vice President of Finance
Phone: 706-778-8500, x1457
Email: kharris@piedmont.edu
CAMPUS : Demorest
EDUCATION : M.S., Public Administration, Florida State University; B.S. Finance, Florida State University

Jamie Purdy
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Phone: 706-778-3000 X1284
Email: jpurdy@piedmont.edu
CAMPUS : Demorest
EDUCATION : Piedmont, 2000 (BA) & Georgia Southern, 2002 (MS)