Kyle Marrero
President
Georgia Southern University
Dr. Kyle Marrero began his tenure as Georgia Southern University’s president on April 1, 2019. As president, he leads the Eagle Nation, a Carnegie R2 institution, with over 28,500 students and 3,000 faculty and staff on three campuses – Statesboro, Savannah and Hinesville, Georgia – with instruction sites in Wexford, Ireland and Ft. Stewart/Hunter Army Education Center. Under his direction, Georgia Southern has established a culture of high performance and evidence-based leadership focused on data-informed decision-making and communication transparency.
Dr. Marrero is directing transformational initiatives for the university including “Soaring to R1” – mapping the organizational alignment and institutional progress to gain Carnegie R1 status by 2027-28 – focusing on a Public Impact Research agenda emphasizing Logistic/Supply Chain Technology Solutions, Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainable Fuels, Holistic Wellness and Fitness, Coastal Resilience/Sustainability, and Community Vibrancy.
Ensuring connection and impact to community, talent development and economic development, Dr. Marrero currently serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE), the Rowen Executive Advisory Council, the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center Savannah, and East Georgia Regional Medical Center. He leads the Regional Educational Collaboratives collaborating with Bulloch and Chatham Counties educational leadership with the goal of every high school graduate being Employed, Enrolled, or Enlisted.
Dr. Marrero is also the President of the Sun Belt Conference CEOs. He served on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and has been named seven times, from 2015-2024, as one of Georgia Trend’s “100 Most Influential Georgians.”
Before arriving at Georgia Southern University, Dr. Marrero was president of the University of West Georgia (UWG) from 2013-19, during which the institution achieved record enrollment, graduation rates, degrees conferred, fundraising, and annual economic impact. The institution won the 2015 American Association of State Colleges and Universities national award for innovation and excellence. Prior to his appointment at West Georgia, he held positions as vice president for university advancement at the University of West Florida (UWF), director of the School of Fine Arts and chair of the music department at UWF, associate professor of voice at Louisiana State University, and artistic director of Pensacola Opera.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s and master’s in vocal performance from Bowling Green State University. His background in the arts has taken him to 10 countries as an artistic ambassador for the United States Embassies and 40 states as a singer, stage director, and artistic director.
