Meeting held following the historic investiture of Mercer’s 19th president, Penny L. Elkins, Ph.D.
MACON, Ga. — Building on the momentum of the historic investiture of Penny L. Elkins, Ph.D., Mercer University’s 19th president, the University’s Board of Trustees convened its annual fall board meeting on Oct. 30, electing nine new trustees and re-electing Cathy Callaway Adams as board chair. Thad Warren was reelected chair of the Executive Committee.
The nine new trustees, whose terms began at the conclusion of the meeting, include Michael P. Boggs, Waycross; Ashley Amos Copelan, Macon; R. Kevin Head, Marietta; Holly J. McCorkle Jones, Jacksonville, Florida; Diana Murphy, St. Simons Island; John S. Peyton, Jacksonville, Florida; W. Louis Sands, Albany; Jennifer Nunn Tarbutton, Sandersville; and James W. Thomas Jr., Arlington, Virginia.
Trustees who rotated off the board and were recognized for their service include William H. Anderson II, Macon; Thomas P. Bishop, Kennesaw; Liza Chapman, St. George Island, Florida; Dwight J. Davis, Hawkinsville; A. Rabun Matthews III, St. Simons Island; J. Thomas McAfee III, Juliette; Eli Morgan, Forsyth; Maxine Cynthia Morris, Dalton; and Barbara Brown Taylor, Clarkesville.
“Mercer is growing and remains strong, thanks to those who generously invest their time and talent to support our mission,” said President Elkins. “On behalf of our students and the entire Mercer community, I welcome our newest members of the Board of Trustees and extend my deepest gratitude to those whose service is concluding.”
Interest in Mercer also continues to rise, affirmed by double-digit year-over-year growth in active users, views and engagements across the University’s major digital platforms, including mercer.edu, The Den – Mercer’s official news and feature stories website – and Mercer’s social media channels. Among the strongest drivers of engagement is growing public interest in Mercer’s reimagined new student life center, a student-led Building for BEARS initiative, which is scheduled to open on Mercer’s Macon residential campus in fall 2028.
During the meeting, Sara Yarahmadi, CLAS ’28, shared that the most important new student center feature requested by students is an outdoor movie plaza. In response, an outdoor movie plaza, to be named the Bill and Kathy Pou Plaza in recognition of a generous $5 million gift from the Pou family, has been incorporated into the design to ensure the needs of the students are fully met. To learn more about the new student center and watch its progress, visit buildingforbears.mercer.edu.
Enrollment at Roberts Academy at Mercer University, grades 2–7, has also tripled since opening its doors in 2024. With 99 students currently enrolled, trustees authorized the immediate construction of a new multipurpose gymnasium to support the Academy’s continued expansion. Roberts Academy is Georgia’s only dedicated school for children with dyslexia outside of Metro Atlanta.
Festivities will continue this weekend at Mercer Homecoming as the Bears take on the Citadel Bulldogs on Anderson Field at Five Star Stadium in Macon on Oct. 31.
“At Mercer, everyone majors in changing the world, and the legacy of our trustees lives on through the generations of students whose lives they have helped shape and whose service continues to make a lasting difference in Georgia and across the globe,” said President Elkins.
