Georgia Southern University president resigns

Georgia Southern University is looking for a new president.

Jaimie Hebert will step down as president of the university, effective June 30, to pursue other opportunities, University System of Georgia (USG) officials announced Wednesday. Hebert has been a candidate for positions in at least two other states in recent weeks, according to published news reports. His current annual salary and benefits totaled about $383,000.

Hebert became Georgia Southern’s president in July 2016.

USG officials said in a news release that Shelley Nickel will serve as the university’s interim president. Nickel is the system’s executive vice chancellor for strategy and fiscal affairs and treasurer for the Board of Regents.

The USG will conduct a national search for Nickel’s replacement. A campus-based search committee will include representatives from Georgia Southern faculty, staff, the student body, alumni and the community and will be appointed by USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley and Board of Regents Chairman James Hull.

The Board of Regents will ultimately choose the next president. The board is also searching for a new president for Kennesaw State University.

Georgia Southern has about 27,000 students, the fifth-largest enrollment in the USG. The Georgia Board of Regents last year consolidated Georgia Southern and Armstrong State universities.