In 2020, Timothy Renick, Ph.D., became founding executive director of Georgia State University’s new National Institute for Student Success. Prior to this transition, Renick served for 13 years as senior vice president for student success, leading a series of innovations that established Georgia State as an internationally recognized leader in student success and enrollment strategies. Under Renick’s leadership, Georgia State saw a 70% improvement in graduation rates and the elimination of achievement gaps based on students’ race, ethnicity, and income levels.  Renick has testified on strategies for helping university students succeed before the U. S. Senate and has been invited to speak at the White House twice.  

His work has been cited by former President Barack Obama and has been covered by national news media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TIME and CNN. Renick was named one of the Most Innovative People in Higher Education by Washington Monthly, was the recipient of the Award for National Leadership in Student Success Innovation and was awarded the McGraw Prize in Higher Education. In 2021, Fortune named him one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. Renick has served as principal investigator for more than $60 million in grants to support the success of college students.  

A professor of religious studies, he has previously served as chair of the Department of Religious Studies, director of the Honors Program, and vice provost at Georgia State University.  Renick is a summa cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College and holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in religion from Princeton University.