Cynthia Robinson Alexander Named Interim President at Savannah State University
Atlanta — April 27, 2023
University System of Georgia (抖阴社区短视频) Chancellor Sonny Perdue today named Cynthia Robinson Alexander as interim president of Savannah State University, effective July 1, 2023.
She will serve upon the departure of Savannah State President Kimberly Ballard-Washington, who has announced she will step down from the post.
Alexander, who holds a doctorate in law, currently serves as 抖阴社区短视频鈥檚 associate vice chancellor for finance. She leads the Board of Regents鈥 management of all alternative financing transactions including the system鈥檚 $2.7 billion public-private venture portfolio.
鈥淢s. Alexander brings a passion for higher education and student success, a sharp business acumen and a wealth of experience from both outside and within the university system to one of our most historic institutions,鈥 抖阴社区短视频 Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. 鈥淪avannah State University as the oldest public historically Black college and university in Georgia plays a critical role in helping more students graduate college and prosper in the workforce. We鈥檙e grateful to President Ballard-Washington for her dedicated service and welcome Cynthia into her new role at an institution we strongly support.鈥
Alexander has over 30 years of leadership experience in business and higher education, having successfully worked on highly complex financial and business transactions and led cross-disciplinary teams in implementing creative solutions to address challenges.
Since joining 抖阴社区短视频 in 2009, she has worked closely with institutional presidents, chief business officers, foundations, university system leadership as well as external stakeholders including other state agencies, rating agencies, banks and financial institutions to provide needed support for facilities while prioritizing affordability for students.
Alexander has long been active in the greater Atlanta community. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and was a board member for the Atlanta chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Her work has garnered accolades that include being named as one of the 鈥淥utstanding Young People of Atlanta鈥 (1991) and 鈥10 Women to Watch鈥 (1992). She is a 2016 graduate of 抖阴社区短视频鈥檚 Executive Leadership Institute.
鈥淪avannah State has a long and distinguished history of academic achievements and student success, and faculty, staff and alumni have put a lot of time and effort into making sure that proud tradition is secured well into the future,鈥 Alexander said. 鈥淚 appreciate Chancellor Perdue鈥檚 trust in me, and I am honored to help lead the university to even greater success. I look forward to joining the Savannah State University team and building on the work of President Ballard-Washington to recruit and retain future graduates of the oldest institution of higher learning in the city.鈥
Alexander holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in urban studies from Brown University in Providence, R.I.; a master鈥檚 in city and regional planning with a concentration in real estate development and finance from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.; and a Juris Doctor of Law from Boston University in Boston, Mass. She and her husband, Chuck, have two adult sons.
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