David Potter became the 16th President of North Georgia College & State University on January 3, 2005. Before coming to North Georgia, Potter served as the chief executive officer for the Board of Trustees overseeing the eight public universities in Mississippi since 2003. Prior to his position with the state commission, Potter served as president of Delta State University, in Cleveland, Miss., from 1999 to 2003. Delta State is a public, regional university of 4,000 students, with programs ranging from baccalaureate through doctoral degrees and an annual budget of $40 million.

Previously, he held a number of teaching and administrative positions at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Va., from 1987 to 1999, including provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, vice president and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, vice president for executive affairs, executive assistant to the president, and adjunct faculty in the department of sociology and anthropology.

Potter also gained extensive administrative experience at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), serving in a number of posts between 1981 and 1986 for that state coordinating agency for higher education. He served, as SCHEV's assistant director for academic programs, assistant to the director for legislative programs and coordinator of academic programs.

In addition, Potter also has held administrative and teaching posts at Syracuse University, in Syracuse, N.Y.; Denison University, in Granville, Ohio; and Skillman University, in Damaged, Philippines.

Potter currently serves as a member of the Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness for the American Council of Education. He has served on various commissions and committees for higher education organizations, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (including service on its executive committee), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.