Former UGA president Adams dead at age 77

The following was released today by the University of Georgia

Michael F. Adams, University of Georgia president emeritus, died on Jan. 25, 2026, following a brief illness. He was 77 years old. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn Ethridge Adams and their sons, David Adams and Taylor Adams (Carrie), as well as three granddaughters, Campbell, Tucker and Lawson Adams.

Adams, who served as the university’s 21st president from 1997 to 2013, led the university to national prominence as one of the country’s top 20 public research universities. During his tenure, the university grew its enrollment, expanded its faculty, increased its fundraising, and enlarged its footprint—all while improving academic quality across the board.

“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 Mary, David and Taylor, and their entire family,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “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.”

Adams’ leadership helped UGA become a more selective academic institution, while growing enrollment from 29,673 students in 1997 to 35,000 in 2012. UGA added 127 endowed professorships and 14 Georgia Research Alliance eminent scholars. Federal research expenditures nearly tripled. Adams’ stewardship helped UGA create 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). The Medical Partnership with Augusta University (2010) established the foundation for UGA’s new School of Medicine.

“This is about more than numbers. It is about people, about opportunity, about the power of education to improve both an individual’s life and the community in which he or she lives. It’s about transformation,” Adams said in 2013, reflecting on his presidency in his final State of the University address. “I believe in this place; I believe in higher education; I believe in the power of education to change lives. I’m exhibit A of that, and it has given me an opportunity to represent the institution and move it forward.”

During Adams’ presidency, the university transformed its campus, spending more than $1 billion on construction and renovation. New facilities provided space for teaching, research, the arts, and housing—ranging from the East Campus Village, the Zell B. Miller Learning Center, the Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries, and the expanded Georgia Museum of Art. UGA also enhanced its international presence, emphasizing study abroad programs and adding year-round residential sites in Oxford, England; Cortona, Italy; and San Luis, Costa Rica.

The university doubled private giving during Adams’ tenure, while UGA’s endowment grew from $249.4 million in 1997 to $745.8 million in 2011. At the conclusion of his presidency, Adams’ signature appeared on some 110,000 degrees earned by almost half of UGA’s living alumni. 

“President Adams truly believed in the transformational power of higher education, and he envisioned and launched bold new programs and initiatives to help students achieve their dreams,” said Meg Amstutz, dean of the Morehead Honors College and former chief of staff to President Adams. “He clearly understood that the future health of the state was tied to the strength of its flagship university, and he worked tirelessly to strengthen academic offerings for students so that they might then become proud alumni and leaders in their communities.”

Adams’ success as a university administrator was recognized by more than 50 higher education awards, including the Knight Foundation Award for Presidential Leadership, the Pioneer Award for Leadership in Civil Rights, and the James T. Rogers Award, among others. He served in leadership positions with the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the American Council on Education, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Executive Committee.

Before assuming the role of UGA president, Adams served as president of Centre College from 1989 to 1997, vice president of University Affairs for Pepperdine College, and as a faculty member at the Ohio State University. He was chief of staff to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker and an aide to Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander. He returned to Pepperdine after his tenure at UGA, serving as the institution’s chancellor. Adams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from David Lipscomb College and his Master of Arts and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University.

Adams’ 16 years of service to the University of Georgia made a significant impact on the University’s trajectory.

“None of us are owners of the University of Georgia; we merely are stewards of a legacy entrusted to us by generations,” he said in 2013. “We are here for a time, serving an enterprise that is owned by the people of this state.”