The Board of Directors of the Georgia Independent College Association (GICA) today named Jenna Moore Colvin as president of GICA, effective Aug. 24. Colvin succeeds former president Susanna Baxter, who assumed the presidency of LaGrange College on July 1. 

“The Board is delighted to welcome Jenna to lead GICA into its next chapter,” said Dr. Vivia L. Fowler, president of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, and GICA board chair. “Dr. Susanna L. Baxter’s exceptional leadership over the last decade positioned GICA as a credible and reliable partner in Georgia with respect to higher education, and Jenna brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will further strengthen the work of GICA and the private not-for-profit sector.”

Colvin joins GICA after serving as general counsel for the University of North Georgia (UNG), a regional public university with 20,000 students across five campuses. Colvin brings on-campus leadership and state advocacy experience to the GICA presidency. At UNG, she advised university leaders on matters related to governance, research and compliance, constitutional law, student affairs, athletics, international activities, litigation, governmental audits, and investigations. She also led the University of North Georgia’s state government relations program from 2014-2017 and advocated for the university’s capital plan and strategic priorities, including construction of a new $30 million convocation center.

“I am pleased with the selection of Jenna Colvin. She will be able to hit the ground running and build upon the work of Dr. Baxter to assist private colleges during this unprecedented time in our country and beyond,” said Dean Collins, president of Point University in West Point, Georgia, and chair of the search committee. “Jenna’s legal, advocacy and higher education experiences will serve GICA members and our state well.”

Colvin previously served as a partner at FisherBroyles, where she created and led the firm’s higher education practice area and served as outside general counsel for the University of North Georgia, Young Harris College and GICA.

“Georgia’s independent colleges make our higher education marketplace stronger and more vibrant because of their diverse missions and proven success in helping students attain their educational and career aspirations,” Colvin said. “I am very excited about this new role and the opportunity to serve the Georgia Independent College Association’s member institutions as they support their students and communities.” 

Colvin began her legal career in Atlanta as an attorney with Alston & Bird after earning her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and Bachelor of Arts in art and art history from the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences.

Colvin has served as a guest lecturer and co-presenter on topics related to higher education law, and she co-authored the chapter on “Payment Provisions” in The Construction Contracts Book: How to Find Common Ground in Negotiating Design and Construction Contract Clauses, published by the American Bar Association in 2014.

She has been involved in community service efforts as chair of the GO Team, an elected board of parents, school representatives and community members at Parkside Elementary School, as well as a board member and treasurer for Voices for Georgia’s Children.