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Kathy ‘Kat’ Schwaig is the sixth president of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ State University, an emerging top public research institution in the United States that serves nearly 48,000 students and is the third-largest public university in the state of Georgia. 

Schwaig initially served as interim president in 2021 before being named president in 2022. Under her leadership, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has launched "Taking Flight," a new strategic plan aimed at achieving national prominence and inclusive excellence. During Schwaig’s tenure, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has embarked on a comprehensive student success initiative, established more than 50 new undergraduate and graduate degrees and minors, professional programs, and credentials for in-demand fields, launched FLIGHT — a class-year, student success engagement program for first-year students focused on community, progress, and retention, realized an 81% increase in external research awards, and more than doubled research expenditures. The university has also made significant investments in academic, research, and technology infrastructure and facilities, including nearly 20 capital projects that have enhanced the learning, living, and working environments on both campuses. Schwaig also oversaw ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s move to Conference USA and relaunched HatchBridge, a community-focused business incubator.

Schwaig’s presidency began during the private phase of The Campaign for ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, the university’s first-ever comprehensive campaign. During her tenure, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ secured the largest gift in the university’s history and successfully increased average annual fundraising by nearly 250%. When the campaign went public in 2023, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ boldly raised the campaign’s goals from $125 million to $200 million, including a $30 million campaign goal for ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Athletics, a first for the university. 

Schwaig has served in several senior administration roles in her more than two decades of service to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ State. She served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs from 2019 to 2021. As provost, she led the development of the R2 Roadmap to enhance undergraduate and graduate education and research and facilitated ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s transition to a formal research (R2) institution. Schwaig also led an extensive faculty hiring initiative, launched the Double Owl program, expanded the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Journey Honors College, and established the Provost Leadership Fellows and the Women’s Leadership Academy.

Prior to serving as provost, Schwaig was the dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business, where she was named the Dinos Eminent Scholar Chair of Entrepreneurial Management. Schwaig oversaw the creation of the College’s first doctoral program, increased educational opportunities for entrepreneurs, and achieved the top ranking in Georgia for the College’s MBA programs. Schwaig is a professor of information systems with research focusing on the strategic and ethical implications of computer technology. She is published in key academic journals in her field, including the Journal of Management Information Systems and Information Systems Research.

Schwaig received the Oscar Burnett Award for Distinguished Achievement in Business from the Morris Brown College Foundation, the Cobb Executive Women’s Glass Ceiling Award, and Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award. A dedicated community partner and volunteer, she is the chair of Select Cobb and serves on the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She previously served on boards for the Cobb Community Foundation, Mount Paran Christian School, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta - Cobb County, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Engage Scholarship Consortium, and the Alliance for Children Everywhere.

A native of central Texas, Schwaig holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Information Systems from Baylor University, a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of South Carolina. Schwaig is the proud mom of her high school daughter, Emma Grace.