Sonny Perdue

Sonny Perdue became the 14th chancellor of the University System of Georgia on April 1, 2022. He oversees 26 public colleges and universities with a more than $11.5 billion annual budget, 48,000 faculty and staff, and more than 344,000 students.

Prior to becoming chancellor, Perdue was the 31st secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021. He also served two terms as the governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011, and was a member of the Georgia Senate from 1991 to 2001.

As agriculture secretary, Perdue managed a workforce of 110,000 employees with the stated objective of being the most efficient, effective, and customer-friendly agency in federal government. As governor, he reformed the state budget and focused on eliminating wasteful spending while Georgia faced unprecedented twin recessions. His tenure in the state legislature came at a time when lawmakers worked with Georgia Gov. Zell Miller to craft one of the most innovative higher education programs in the nation, the HOPE Scholarship.

Perdue earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Georgia. He is also a veteran, serving four years in the U.S. Air Force.