The state Board of Regents voted Wednesday to make Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens the next president of Kennesaw State University.

The appointment comes four months after Dan Papp resigned in June after an audit concluded he he already had received more than $577,000 in retirement pay from the university’s foundation without notifying the state’s University System.

Supporters say Olens’ deep Cobb County roots make him an ideal president for KSU. He’s a former county commissioner and two-term commission chairman. His detractors complained the selection process wasn’t inclusive and have concerns about his ability to represent the interest of all students, particularly those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

More than two dozen KSU students and faculty came to Wednesday's meeting to voice their displeasure with the vote. Several students interrupted the board at the beginning of the meeting and chanted "we must love each other and protect each other" before exiting the meeting.

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The board of education for the City Schools of Decatur  is considering closing a K-2 primary school. The board plans to seek community input on redistricting plans and will vote on Dec. 9.  (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com