Sam Olens to step down as Kennesaw State president

ATLANTA — Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens announced Thursday he will step down as president, effective Feb. 15.

Olens, who left his position is state attorney general to accept the university job, has served as president since Nov. 1, 2016.

“Sam is a truly dedicated public servant to the state of Georgia and has contributed much of his life for the betterment of Georgians,” University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “I thank Sam for his service to Kennesaw State University and the University System of Georgia. On behalf of the University System, we wish Sam and his family the very best.”

No reason for Olens’ resignation was given in the news release by the University System, but Olens has been under fire over his handling of a situation in late September in which football cheerleaders protested racism and inequality by kneeling during the national anthem. There have been calls for him to resign, and late last month the Regents said that Olens did not follow instructions to keep the University System informed about such protest situations and how they would be handled.

In preparation for the transition, the USG news release states, Wrigley has named Ken Harmon interim president. Harmon currently serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs for the institution. Prior to this role, Harmon served as dean of KSU’s Coles College of Business. He has been at KSU since 2006.

“With more than a decade of experience in leadership roles at KSU, Dr. Harmon will ensure a smooth transition,” Wrigley said. “We appreciate Dr. Harmon stepping forward to serve KSU’s students, faculty and staff.”

The University System will immediately begin a national search for Kennesaw’s next president. A campus-based presidential search committee will be formed and announced. Members of the committee will include representatives from KSU faculty, staff, the student body, alumni and KSU’s local community and will be appointed by current Board of Regents Chairman C. Thomas Hopkins Jr., Chairman-elect James M. Hull and Wrigley. Nominations for the search committee should be submitted to the Board of Regents.

The campus-based presidential search committee will be responsible for the search and screening of candidates. The authority to name a president resides with the chancellor and the Regents, so the board will form a special committee of Board of Regents members. At the conclusion of the campus committee’s work, the campus committee will forward for consideration to the Regents’ special committee the credentials of three to five unranked candidates.