Kirby Godsey

R. Kirby Godsey served as Mercer University’s 17th president and CEO from July 1, 1979, until June 30, 2006. He served as president longer than any of his predecessors. Under Dr. Godsey’s leadership, Mercer grew to be among the largest Baptist-affiliated universities in the world and the only college or university of its size in the country to offer such diverse programs as liberal arts, business, education, engineering, pharmacy, law, theology, nursing, medicine and music. At the time of his retirement as president, the University enrolled more than 7,300 students, employed more than 1,300 faculty and staff, managed a budget of more than $175 million, and had an endowment of close to $200 million, with more than $200 million expected to be received in the near future from planned gifts.