Sonny Perdue announced he will retire as chancellor of the University System of Georgia, setting off a national search for his replacement. Perdue’s planned exit comes after four years at the helm of USG, which oversees 25 public colleges and universities, the state’s public library system, and archives. USG’s board said Perdue’s tenure coincided with conservative governance priorities, including installing 14 university presidents and influencing systemwide strategy. The board cited tuition affordability goals and reported that inflation-adjusted tuition at USG has fallen roughly 24% since 2017. Until a successor is named, Domenico Grasso will continue serving as interim president, keeping day-to-day system operations stable while the board selects a new long-term leader.