Mercer University President Underwood to step down, return to law school

Mercer begins national search for new president as William D. Underwood plans return to teaching

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Mercer University President William D. Underwood announced during the university’s spring Board of Trustees meeting that he will step down from that role and return to full-time teaching at Mercer Law School, where he began his academic career 35 years ago.

Underwood, who became Mercer’s 18th president in 2006, will continue to lead the university until a successor is named. Board Chair Tom Bishop said a national search will begin soon to identify Mercer’s 19th president. The university has had only three presidents in the last 65 years.

“Being responsible for the stewardship of this special place — for preserving it for future generations — has been the professional honor of a lifetime,” Underwood said. “Now I look forward to achieving my long-held ambition of stepping back up to the classroom.”

Board leaders praised Underwood’s transformative leadership, which has included a more than 30% increase in enrollment, a tripling of the university’s endowment, and Mercer’s elevation to an R2 national research university. Other milestones under his tenure include Mercer On Mission, the return of intercollegiate football, and expansion of the School of Medicine into Savannah and Columbus.

In anticipation of the presidential search, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved revisions to Mercer’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, easing long-standing denominational membership requirements. Previously, Mercer’s president and at least half of its trustees were required to be Baptist. The revised language now emphasizes commitment to historic Baptist values — such as freedom of thought, equality, and service — while requiring the president to identify as Christian but not necessarily Baptist.

Underwood said the shift reflects demographic changes and ensures a wider pool of qualified future leaders.

Also during the meeting, the board:

• Approved a record $320 million operating budget for 2025-26, exclusive of federal grants

• Limited most tuition increases to between 1% and 3%, with no increases in the School of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and most Nursing programs

Underwood will return to teaching law full-time after completing 20 years as president. He previously served as interim president of Baylor University and held the Leon Jaworski Chair at Baylor Law School.