Fort Valley State University President announces retirement

Jones will conclude a decade as president after more than 24 years in the University System of Georgia

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Paul A. Jones, president of Fort Valley State University, announced plans to retire at the end of June 2026, concluding a decade of service as the university’s 10th president and more than 24 years within the University System of Georgia.

He described the decision as thoughtful and prayerful.

“Serving as president of Fort Valley State University has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life,” Jones said. “From the beginning, my goal was to serve faithfully, strengthen the institution and ensure that Fort Valley State is positioned to thrive well beyond my tenure.”

Infrastructure, academics, and philanthropy

According to a news release from the university, Fort Valley State made significant progress in three key areas during Jones’ tenure: campus infrastructure, academic program expansion, and philanthropic growth. Strategic investments strengthened the university’s physical and operational foundation, while new academic programs were launched to meet workforce and community needs. Fundraising efforts expanded support for student success, academic programs and endowed faculty positions.

Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, credited Jones with positioning the university for long-term impact.

“Under his leadership, Fort Valley State University rose to number one in Georgia for social mobility and expanded its reach,” Perdue said. “President Jones has set Fort Valley State up for long-term impact by strengthening academic offerings and philanthropic efforts, and he leaves a legacy of advancing the university’s historic mission.”

Jones will continue to serve fully as president through June 2026.

Full Message from Dr. Jones:

Dear Fort Valley State University Family,

As we reflect on this academic year, I write to you with gratitude, clarity and purpose.

During the course of this academic year, we marked two meaningful milestones in the life of our institution: Fort Valley State University’s 130th anniversary and 10 years of my service as its president. Taken together and viewed alongside more than 24 years of service within the University System of Georgia and nearly four decades in higher education, these moments led me to a thoughtful and prayerful decision.

I will retire as President of Fort Valley State University at the end of June 2026.

This decision was not made lightly. Serving as the 10th president of Fort Valley State has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life.

When I began this role, I did so with deep respect for Fort Valley State’s history and an abiding belief in its mission. I understood the responsibility that comes with leading Georgia’s 1890 land-grant institution, and my charge was clear: to serve faithfully, strengthen the university and ensure that Fort Valley State is positioned to thrive well beyond my tenure. From the beginning, I have believed in Fort Valley State as a place that has long served as a light for opportunity, possibility and transformation for generations of students and families.

Together, we have made meaningful progress.

Over the past decade, Fort Valley State has reached significant milestones that reflect both stability and forward momentum. We achieved our largest enrollment since 2013, strengthened student retention and graduation outcomes, and expanded access and opportunity for students whose success defines who we are. Our collective work has resulted in sustained recognition, including being ranked the number one public Historically Black College or University in Georgia for eight consecutive years and being ranked the number one regional university in Georgia for social mobility, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

We have also strengthened the physical and operational foundation of our campus through substantial infrastructure investments. These include the renovation of Lyons Center, Bywaters Hall, Founders Hall, and Davison Hall; the development of the Legacy Hall apartment complex; the Cold Vegetable Processing Center; the Smyre Center for Agriculture Innovation and Entrepreneurship; the Chevron Digital Fabrication Laboratory; the Central Energy Plant; the Greek Plaza; and continued campus beautification efforts. Together, these investments reflect a commitment to learning environments that support academic excellence, innovation and student life.

Our academic offerings have expanded in meaningful ways that respond to workforce needs and community impact. During my tenure, the university established the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the Master of Public Administration degree, and the Master of Social Work degree. We will also launch the Bachelor of Science in Health Administration program in fall 2026. These additions further strengthen our role as a land-grant institution committed to preparing graduates for service, leadership and meaningful careers.

Over these years, we have also strengthened the university’s financial foundation and external support. Our Scholarship Luncheon, the university’s premier fundraiser, has grown into a signature philanthropic event that brings together alumni, partners and friends of Fort Valley State around a shared commitment to student success. Generosity from alumni, corporate partners and supporters, including significant Homecoming giving, permanent endowment contributions, and support for scholarships, academic programs, and endowed faculty positions, has expanded opportunity and reinforced long-term institutional stability. These efforts have helped ensure that FVSU remains accessible, competitive and well-positioned for continued growth and impact.

I am also proud of the broader recognition of our collective efforts. I have been humbled to currently serve as one of the longest-serving presidents in the public HBCU family, to have served as the former chair of the Council of Presidents of the 1890 land-grant university system, and to be recognized three times as one of Georgia Trend magazine’s “500 Most Influential Leaders in Georgia.”

I am grateful for the leadership and perspective of Chancellor Sonny Perdue and the Board of Regents, whose reflections underscore the collective work and impact of this university.

“President Paul Jones has dedicated more than 24 years to the University System of Georgia, including ten years leading one of the South’s top public Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Georgia’s only 1890 land-grant institution,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue. “Under his leadership, Fort Valley State University rose to number one in Georgia for social mobility and expanded its reach. Respected nationally as the former chair of the Council of 1890 University Presidents, President Jones has set Fort Valley State University up for long-term impact by establishing high-priority healthcare programs and strengthening its philanthropic efforts. He is a proud Wildcat who leaves a legacy of advancing the university’s historic mission. I am grateful for his service to the system and our students, and I wish him and his family the very best.”

None of this progress belongs to one person.

Leading Fort Valley State has required steady conviction, difficult decisions and an enduring belief in the people and purpose of this institution. It has demanded patience in challenges, resolve in uncertainty, and faith in the long arc of what Fort Valley State represents for our students and the communities we serve. Throughout my tenure, I have often returned to a simple guiding principle: Empower the Possible. Not as a phrase, but as a commitment to see potential where others may not, and to create the conditions for that potential to become reality. I have never taken lightly the responsibility entrusted to me, and I have approached this role with the understanding that leadership here is not about visibility, but about stewardship.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this special institution. I am also grateful to our faculty and staff whose dedication, professionalism, and care for students sustain Fort Valley State every day. I thank our dedicated alumni whose loyalty, advocacy, and pride continue to uplift our university across generations. I am thankful for our students, who remain the clearest reminder of why this work matters, and for our community partners and supporters who believe in the promise and impact of Fort Valley State University.

As I look toward the conclusion of my presidency, I do so with confidence in Fort Valley State’s future. This confidence comes from knowing the strength of the people who sustain this institution and the clarity of the mission that continues to guide us. The foundation is strong. The mission is clear. The next chapter for our Wildcat community holds tremendous potential.

In the months ahead, my focus will remain on serving fully and ensuring a thoughtful, stable transition that supports continuity, momentum and institutional strength. Until my final day in office, I remain fully committed to Fort Valley State and to the work we are called to do.

I am also thankful to First Lady Sylvia Jones for her support and her deep love for FVSU. It has been our immense privilege to serve this esteemed institution of higher learning. I leave this role with deep pride in what we have accomplished together and lasting gratitude for the trust placed in me.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

With gratitude and resolve,

Paul A. Jones, Ph.D.

President, Fort Valley State University