Whitten officially becomes KSU president

ATLANTA — The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia officially named Pamela Whitten president of Kennesaw State University last week. Whitten will begin her new position July 16.

Whitten currently serves as senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, a position she has held since 2014.

“Dr. Whitten brings a deep commitment toward building an outstanding academic experience for students, as well as an uncompromising dedication toward quality research and leadership that will serve KSU and its community well,” University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley said in making the announcement. “We are excited about the feedback from students, faculty and staff who participated in Dr. Whitten’s campus visits last week. I look forward to seeing KSU thrive as she takes this important role.”

Whitten had been named the best-qualified for the position two weeks ago.

“It is an honor and privilege to join the KSU community,” Whitten said. “I am thrilled to be able to partner with the entire Owl Nation to champion our students, faculty and staff across Georgia and beyond.”

Prior to joining UGA, Whitten’s career included working as director for telemedicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center before she joined the faculty at Michigan State University, where she worked her way up through the faculty ranks before eventually serving as dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.

She is an internationally recognized expert in the field of telemedicine — the remote delivery of health care services and information — and has conducted research with nearly $30 million in funding from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Commerce. She has co-authored two books and published more than 100 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters.