Jessica Bailey to Lead Fort Valley State University

The University System of Georgia has named Jessica Bailey as acting president of historically Black Fort Valley State University. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education, the university enrolls about 2,900 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students. Women make up 57 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Dr. Bailey will serve as acting president from May 15 until July 1 when current president Ivelaw Griffith leaves office. On July 1, Dr. Bailey will become interim president of the university.

Dr. Bailey has been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the university. Previously she was dean of the School of Business and Economics at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Earlier, Dr. Bailey was dean of the Sydney Lewis School of Business at Virginia Union University in Richmond.

Dr. Bailey holds three master’s degrees from Coppin State University and an MBA and a Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Missouri.