Dr. John M. Fuchko III

Biography

Dr. John M. Fuchko III will begin his tenure as Columbus State University's interim president on July 1, 2022. The University System of Georgia announced his appointment in February 2022 when President Chris Markwood revealed his plans to retire on June 30.

Dr. Fuchko's higher education service has spanned more than 15 years - all of which has been within the University System of Georgia and focused on auditing and operational roles. In his current role as vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness, he oversees enterprise risk management, compliance and ethics, athletics oversight, strategic implementation, accreditation and various other administrative functions. Prior to that role, he served for seven years as USG's chief audit officer and vice chancellor for internal audit, which included responsibility for 25 campus audit shops and 80 professional staff. He also oversaw three of the USG's institutional consolidation efforts. Previously, Dr. Fuchko served in various audit and compliance positions with the Board of Regents and with the State Department of Audits and Accounts.

In addition to his professional roles, Dr. Fuchko serves as a colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard. He is the commander of the 122nd Tactical Support Detachment, and his two decades of service have also included roles such as G2 (intelligence Officer) for the Georgia Army National Guard, executive officer for the 78th Troop Command, and battalion commander for the 221st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion. He has deployed twice to the Middle East, has commanded four times, and is a graduate of the Command and General Staff Operations Course. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

A Georgia native, Dr. Fuchko holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Kennesaw State University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, student government president, and Board of Regents' student advisory council chair. He earned an MBA at Georgia State University, a master of science degree in strategic intelligence at the National Intelligence University, and a doctorate in education at The University of Georgia. He also is currently pursuing an additional master's degree at the U.S. Army War College.

In alignment with his USG responsibilities, Dr. Fuchko holds certifications as a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Risk Management Assurance, a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and Prosci Change Management Certification.

John served as an officer and board member for several nonprofits and serves as "first councilor" at Epiphany Catholic Church. He currently is the vice chair for the Center for Family Resources and chair of the National Guard Association of Georgia's Finance Committee. He has served as president and/or chair of several nonprofits, include the 1,900-member Institute of Internal Auditors Atlanta Chapter. Dr. Fuchko previously served as editor of the College and University Auditor journal of the Association of College & University Auditors.

Dr. Fuchko has been featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle and regularly speaks on internal audit, governance and higher education topics. He is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Atlanta and a recipient of the "40 Under 40" recognition from both Georgia Trend and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Dr. Fuchko has served as a convocation or commencement speaker at Atlanta Metropolitan State College (and a recipient of its Founder's Day Award) and Kennesaw State University. He has also been a keynote speaker at the MIS AuditWorld conference and a speaker for the IIA Atlanta Chapter, the AGA Atlanta Chapter, SACUBO, SHEEO, AGB and IIA webinars, Complete College America, guest lecturer at multiple public and private institutions, and has taught at the doctoral level.

He is married to the former Sherie Michelle Lipham of Canton, Georgia, and they are blessed with 12 toddler- to college-aged children. They live in Cumming, Georgia.

Short-Form Biography

Dr. John Fuchko will begin his tenure as Columbus State University's interim president on July 1. A longtime professional with the University System of Georgia, Dr. Fuchko's most recent role as vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness built on his previous auditing responsibilities by adding oversight of enterprise risk management, compliance and ethics, athletics oversight, strategic implementation, accreditation and various other administrative functions. Concurrently, Dr. Fuchko has devoted nearly two decades of service to the Georgia Army National Guard, currently serving as colonel with two combat deployments and four command tours. A Georgia native, he earned degrees at Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, and the National Intelligence University - leading up to a doctorate in education from The University of Georgia. Amid his professional accomplishments, he actively serves his church and on several nonprofit organization boards, as well as devotes time to his wife Sherie and their 12 toddler- to college-aged children.