Mercer University has confirmed that Dr. Penny L. Elkins, Ph.D., has been unanimously elected as the institution’s 19th president following a vote by the Board of Trustees on 14 November at the historic Penfield Campus in Greene County. She will take office on 1 January 2026, succeeding William D. Underwood, who has served as Mercer’s 18th president for nearly twenty years.
Dr. Elkins has spent more than 25 years at Mercer in a range of academic and senior leadership roles. She is currently executive vice president and interim provost, as well as a tenured professor in the Tift College of Education, holding the Fred L. Miles Endowed Chair of Educational Leadership. Her appointment marks three milestones: Mercer’s first female president, the first Mercer graduate in the role since Rufus Harris (1960-79), and the first Double Bear to serve since George Connell (1953-59).
“To be called and entrusted to lead the institution that so profoundly shaped the trajectory of my life is deeply humbling,” Dr. Elkins said. “Leadership is a privilege and a sacred trust, and I embrace with gratitude both the opportunity and the responsibility to steward Mercer’s mission with integrity, vision and purpose. Now more than ever, our world needs more Mercerians.”
Her election followed a comprehensive process led by a 12-member Presidential Search Committee chaired by trustee Richard A. (Doc) Schneider. Incoming board chair Cathy Callaway Adams described Dr. Elkins as an “innovative, courageous and inspiring” choice to guide the University forward.
Dr. Elkins has held a variety of leadership posts during her career, including 12 years as senior vice president for enrollment management. During that period, Mercer reported significant growth, with an 80% increase in freshman enrolment and a 47% rise in the residential undergraduate population. She has also helped introduce major academic initiatives, including the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Leadership.
Outgoing board chair Thomas P. (Tom) Bishop noted that Mercer has had only three presidents in seven decades, adding that the committee selected Dr. Elkins for her experience and long-term strategic vision. Current president William D. Underwood said the Board “has made the best choice imaginable,” praising her leadership abilities and commitment to Mercer.
Dr. Elkins holds two degrees from Mercer along with advanced qualifications from Georgia College & State University and Georgia State University. She is married to Jason Elkins, an agency manager with Georgia Farm Bureau.
