Board of Regents Elects New Chair and Vice Chair for 2025

Atlanta - November 12, 2024

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today elected current Vice Chair T. Dallas Smith to a one-year term as the Board's new chair and Regent David Dove to a one-year term as the Board's vice chair.

Smith, who joined the Board in 2020 and represents Georgia's 5th congressional district, will serve as chair from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025. He is the founder and chief executive officer at T. Dallas Smith & Company, where he has created a new development division focused on transformative projects. Smith is co-leading the transformative 2 Peachtree project, a bold mixed-use, office-to-residential conversation development aimed at breathing new life into downtown Atlanta. This venture reflects Smith's commitment to public/private partnerships, sustainable economic growth and urban transformation.

"I want to thank Chairman Harold Reynolds for his past three years of service as chair, as he helped steer the system out of the pandemic and provided strong leadership and consistency that included the hiring of Chancellor Sonny Perdue," Smith said. "It's a privilege and an honor to now step into this role, and I look forward to working with Regent Dove and my board colleagues to keep our 26 public colleges and universities focused on the innovation, workforce preparation and student success that USG is known for."

USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue also thanked outgoing Chairman Reynolds, saying he "has been a strong advocate for students and public higher education and spent considerable time working with the board and staff to keep the system moving forward. We're grateful for his leadership, and I look forward to working with incoming Chairman Smith and Regent Dove to continue our progress and success."

In addition to his service on the Board of Regents, Smith is a board member of the USG Foundation. He began his commercial real estate career in 1982 at Atlanta Air Center Realty under the guidance of Thomas W. Tift as a leasing and management representative for the portfolio. In 1989, he became the first African American broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia. His affiliation with the company opened doors for many minority brokers.

In 1995, Smith pioneered the brokerage division for H.J. Russell & Company, an African American-owned construction and management firm. In 2006, with the blessing of the late Herman Russell, he opened T. Dallas Smith & Company, specializing in tenant representation. Since its inception, the team has grown exponentially, successfully leading transactions totaling over $16 billion in aggregate value.

A Georgia State University alumnus, Smith is the author of "In the Black," which details his career as a pioneer in commercial real estate. He serves on the board of directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is the first Black president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS. He has been awarded numerous honors, including a 2021 Alvin B. Cates Award and being named one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2021 and 2022; Georgia Trend Magazine's 2022 Georgia 500; Atlanta Magazine's Atlanta 500 for 2021, 2022 and 2023; and Atlanta Business League's 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dove, who has represented the 11^th congressional district since earlier this year, will serve as vice chair from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025. Dove is a partner at Troutman Pepper in Atlanta, where his practice focuses on regulatory and economic investment matters. Originally from Athens, Dove earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Georgia, where he was inducted into the Order of Barristers and Blue Key Honor Society.

"I've experienced first-hand the power of being a USG graduate and being able to use that knowledge and education to contribute back to my state," Dove said. "I'm grateful for this honor, and look forward to working with Chair-elect Smith, Chancellor Perdue and the entire board to elevate how we serve our more than 364,000 students and keep USG on track to being the best public university system in the nation."

Dove previously served as executive counsel for Gov. Brian P. Kemp. As one of two direct reports to the governor, he collaborated with the Attorney General's office to secure significant legal victories, notably in the Tri-State Water Wars. He also serves as a Georgia commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission and, in 2023, was appointed by the Georgia Board of Natural Resources to serve as interim director of the Georgia Environmental Resources Division.

He played a crucial role in Gov. Kemp's judicial appointments, including four Supreme Court justices, six judges on the Georgia Court of Appeals and 86 trial court judges in Georgia. He additionally worked alongside Gov. Kemp to significantly increase the representation of women and minorities on executive branch boards and commissions.

Dove was recognized by the UGA Alumni Association with a Young Alumni Award for his outstanding leadership and service to the university, community and legal profession. He remains highly engaged with his alma mater, serving as chairman of the Alumni Board of Directors for UGA's School of Public and International Affairs and as a board member for the Law School Alumni Council. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law.

About the Board of Regents

The Board of Regents is a constitutional body that governs the University System of Georgia, composed of 26 public colleges and universities, the Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Archives, and serving more than 364,000 students.