Clemson's New President
Clemson University Appoints UGA Provost Benjamin Ayers Its 16th President After Search
Key Points
Clemson's outgoing leadership turmoil included former president Jim Clements retiring in December amid conflicts-of-interest questions tied to a seat on the board of a homebuilding company pursuing a development in Oconee County, which pressured the board to begin a new search.
UGA's achievements under Ayers include launching the School of Medicine and the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing, plus expanding study-abroad opportunities that helped UGA rank among the nation’s top five public universities for study-abroad participation.
Before becoming provost, Ayers spent 11 years as dean of the Terry College of Business and nine years leading the J.M. Tull School of Accounting after joining UGA faculty in 1996, building a lengthy track record in business and accounting education.
Clemson’s president-search process involved Funk Associates at a reported cost of about $200,000, starting from 77 applicants and narrowing to three finalists—two internal candidates (Anand Gramopadhye and Cynthia Young)—before Kevin Guskiewicz was chosen and subsequently decided to remain at Michigan State.
Guskiewicz publicly apologized for the uncertainty surrounding his reversal, describing the decision as driven by a mix of personal and professional considerations and expressing his affection for Clemson and its people.
Clemson University has a new president. The Board of Trustees unanimously picked Benjamin Ayers, the University of Georgia's top academic officer, to lead the 30,000-student school starting Aug. 1, according to WIS TV. Ayers will be Clemson's 16th president and will serve under a five-year contract.
The pick came after a dramatic twist. Clemson had already chosen Michigan State chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz for the job — but he backed out, ABC News 4 reported. Guskiewicz publicly apologized, saying the reversal came from a mix of personal and professional reasons, and that he still had deep affection for Clemson.
A Six-Month Search That Hit a Dead End
Clemson's search for a new president started after former president Jim Clements retired in December. His exit came amid conflict-of-interest questions. Clements had a seat on the board of a homebuilding company that was pursuing a development in Oconee County — too close to his role at a public university.
The board hired search firm Funk Associates for about $200,000. The process started with 77 applicants and narrowed to three finalists. Two were internal candidates: Anand Gramopadhye and Cynthia Young. Then Guskiewicz was chosen — and then he wasn't. That forced Clemson to pivot fast, according to ABC News 4.
Who Is Benjamin Ayers and Why Clemson Chose Him
Ayers joined UGA's faculty in 1996. He spent nine years running the J.M. Tull School of Accounting. Then he led the Terry College of Business for 11 years as its dean. In 2022, he moved into the provost role — UGA's top academic job — overseeing all of the university's colleges and programs.
The board's unanimous vote signals they wanted a steady, experienced hand. Ayers had cross-campus leadership experience and a long track record. He is also a two-time University of Alabama graduate, according to Patch.
Major Wins Ayers Racked Up at UGA
Under Ayers' watch as provost, UGA launched two new professional schools: a School of Medicine and the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing. Those are big moves for a flagship public university. Both programs expand UGA's reach into health care education.
Ayers also pushed to grow study-abroad opportunities. The results were measurable. UGA climbed into the top five public universities in the country for study-abroad participation, according to AOL citing UGA's own announcement to faculty and staff. That kind of concrete outcome likely stood out to Clemson's board.
UGA Now Searches for Its Own Academic Leader
Ayers' departure leaves a hole at UGA. He was its senior vice president for academic affairs — the person who oversees teaching, research, and faculty across the entire university. UGA announced the news directly to faculty and staff in a formal statement, according to Online Athens.
For Clemson, the focus now shifts to Aug. 1, when Ayers officially takes the reins. The board's quick and unanimous decision after Guskiewicz's reversal suggests they saw Ayers as a clear and stable choice — not a backup plan, but a genuine first choice in a second look.
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