Winder Resident Named University of Georgia President's Chief of Staff

University of Georgia President-elect Jere Morehead has named a Winder resident as his chief of staff. 

Kathy Pharr, an administrator with almost two decades of experience in a variety of campus roles, currently serves as assistant vice president for finance and administration and director of Health Sciences Campus administration. Pharr lives in Winder with her husband of 25 years, Jerry, who is the band director at Russell Middle School. Their oldest son, Joshua, is a junior at Winder-Barrow High School and their youngest son, Andrew, is an eighth-grader at Russell Middle.

“Dr. Pharr has demonstrated exceptional skill in managing complex projects and has provided leadership for several major campus initiatives,” said Morehead, who will assume presidency of the college July 1. “She has built strong relationships across campus and with the University System of Georgia, government officials, alumni and other supporters. She will play a key role in my administration, and I look forward to working with her.”

In Pharr’s new role as chief of staff, she will provide counsel to Morehead and his staff, which will report through her to him. The directors of the university’s Equal Opportunity Office, Internal Auditing Division and Office of Legal Affairs will also report through her to the president. She will provide fiscal oversight of state and UGA Foundation accounts supporting the president’s office, will serve as liaison for special events held at the president’s house and will oversee house operations. She will serve as the liaison to various UGA Foundation boards and affiliated organizations, as well as the University Council Executive Committee. She also will review and make recommendations related to appeals to the president, among many other duties.

Pharr joined UGA in August 1993 as director of communications and public relations for the school of law. She served for three years as the president’s liaison with the university’s facilities and fundraising units and worked closely with the UGA Foundation Board of Trustees and the UGA Real Estate Foundation. Since 2004, she has served as assistant vice president for finance and administration, with oversight of the Health Sciences Campus added in 2011.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen for this important role,” Pharr said. “I am deeply committed to the University of Georgia and look forward to working with President-elect Morehead, the administration, faculty, staff and students to advance the institution’s mission and impact on the state of Georgia and beyond.”

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