Ex-UGA President Dies After 'Brief Illness,' Officials Say

ATHENS, GA — University of Georgia President Emeritus Michael F. Adams died Sunday after a "brief illness" at age 77, officials said.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Over 16 years of service, he helped shape the University of Georgia’s trajectory and left a lasting mark on our institution," UGA officials said in a statement posted to Facebook.

More than an educator, Adams was a husband, father to two sons and grandfather to three granddaughters, the Athens-based university said.

He was UGA's 21st president, serving from 1997-2013, and has been distinctively regarded for his work at the prominent Georgia university.

"Marty, the girls and I are saddened by the loss of former UGA President Michael Adams," Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement. "President Adams' leadership helped usher in a new era for our state's flagship university, cementing its place as one of the top public universities in the nation. We send our deepest condolences to the Adams family during this time."

Rising fundraising, a growth in faculty members and an increase in enrollment underscored Adams' legacy at UGA. Officials say he guided the university to become a top 20 public research institution in the U.S.

In 1997, there were 29,673 students enrolled at UGA. By 2012, that number leaped to 35,000. Furthermore, UGA said it added 127 endowed professorships and 14 Georgia Research Alliance eminent scholars.

During Adams' tenure, the following schools were established: the School of Public and International Affairs (2001), the College of Environment and Design (2001), the College of Public Health (2005), the Odum School of Ecology (2007) and the College of Engineering (2012).

UGA also formed a medical partnership with Augusta University in 2010, which created the School of Medicine.

While he was president, UGA also spent at least $1 billion on campus construction and renovations that consisted of space for teaching, researching, housing and the arts. The university's study abroad programs also grew to include year-round residential sites in Oxford, England; Cortona, Italy; and San Luis, Costa Rica.

Adams' more than 50 higher-education awards included the Pioneer Award for Leadership in Civil Rights, James T. Rogers Award and the Knight Foundation Award for Presidential Leadership, officials said.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of President Adams’ passing, and on behalf of the University of Georgia community, I want to express my sincere condolences to (his wife and sons) and their entire family,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead said in a news release.

“When Dr. Adams became president, he outlined an ambitious vision for the future of our great institution, and during his 16-year tenure, he implemented that vision and elevated the national reputation of UGA in so many positive ways. I will always be grateful for his service to the University of Georgia and his unwavering commitment to advancing our mission.”