Sometimes you don’t have to look any farther than your own backyard.

After a national search resulting in four finalists from around the country, University President Michael Adams selected Jere Morehead – who has been at the University for most of the past 23 years – to take over as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

“I became convinced that the person most capable of leading the academic mission of the University of Georgia for the next several years was already here in our vice president for instruction, Jere Morehead,” Adams said at a press conference Friday.

Morehead will replace Arnett Mace, who is retiring Jan. 1 after seven years as the University’s chief academic officer – a position critical to improving academics at the school.

Though some have expressed concern about hiring internally, others on campus see the advantages of having a provost already familiar with the institution.

Jeffrey Dorfman, a professor of agricultural and applied economics who heard Morehead speak during an open forum with the University community last month, said Morehead effectively outlined the advantages of hiring someone from the inside.

Morehead said he would look for new, external perspectives by visiting the provosts at prominent research institutions outside of the state.

“Nobody can quickly learn all the stuff that it’s taken him years to learn,” Dorfman said in a phone interview Friday. “But he can go and visit these other provosts.”

For Robert Hoyt, a department head in the Terry College of Business, the budget crunch provided another reason to hire within the University community.

“Ultimately , we’re achieving a lot of excellent things,” Hoyt said in a phone interview Friday.

“But in tough budgetary times, it’s nice to have someone who understands the core operation of the institution.”

Hoyt – who worked alongside Morehead when they were Terry College faculty – said the commitment to education Morehead has already shown in his teaching and administrative positions would not be lost as he takes up the duties of the provost.

Morehead began his time at the University in 1986 as an assistant professor in Terry College – and he still teaches in Terry as the Meigs Professor of Legal Studies, a position he earned in 2004.

He has also served as the director of the Honors Program and the vice provost for academic affairs. In 2007, he became vice president for instruction after holding the position on an interim basis the previous year.

“In every case, those offices were stronger when he left than when he assumed each role,” Adams said. “I’m confident that will be true of the provost office as well.”

Morehead said he would focus on recruiting top faculty and bringing the best students to the University.

“Doing so is the key to achieving the highest levels of excellence in instruction, research and public service,” he said.

David Lee, vice president for research, said he was excited to begin working under the new provost. The vice presidents for research, instruction, public service and outreach, and student affairs all report directly to the provost.

“[Morehead] is truly interested in moving the University forward in research and graduate education,” Lee said in a phone interview Friday.

The University’s ranking in terms of the amount of federal money it has received for research projects has slipped over the past years, he said.

“We need to restore our ranking and actually move it forward,” he said.

Will Rooks, president of the Graduate Student Association, said he was impressed with Morehead’s commitment to graduate education. Rooks, who served on the provost search committee, said Morehead made his dedication to graduate students known in both formal meetings throughout the search process and in candid conversations.

“A focus on graduate education benefits the whole University,” Rooks said in a phone interview Friday.

Graduate students are more valuable in the funding formula used by the Board of Regents to determine the amount of money allocated to the school, Rooks said. Attracting more graduate students means more money for the University.

“It’s a very smart strategic move on the part of the University to invest in graduate education,” Rooks said.

But Morehead made his devotion to all academic areas of the University known.

He said he would spend time listening to the ideas and concerns of various campus leaders – including deans, vice presidents, researchers and representatives from both the Graduate Student Association and the Student Government Association.

“I believe the focus of the next provost must remain on providing the best academic experience for our undergraduate, graduate and professional students,” Morehead said. “Great faculty attract great students, and both drive the overall reputation of the University.”