Dr. George A. Pruitt

President Emeritus and Board Distinguished Fellow

Thomas Edison State University

George A. Pruitt currently serves as President Emeritus and Board Distinguished Fellow at Thomas Edison State University.

Dr. Pruitt was appointed the institution’s third president in December 1982 and served for over 35 years. He is among the longest-serving public university presidents in the nation and was identified as one of the country’s most effective college presidents in a study of presidential leadership funded by the Exxon Education Foundation.

Dr. Pruitt is active in the formulation of educational policy nationally and within the State of New Jersey. He has served in an advisory capacity to five secretaries of education under three US presidents of both parties. He is the recipient of seven honorary degrees, numerous awards, honors and commendations, and has consulted widely in higher education, business and government.

Prior to his tenure at Thomas Edison State University, he served in executive leadership positions at Illinois State University, Towson State University, Morgan State University, Tennessee State University, and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.

In 2022, Dr. Pruitt authored the memoir, From Protest to President: A Social Justice Journey Through the Emergence of Adult Education and the Birth of Distance Learning published by Rutgers University Press.

He has an adult daughter, Shayla and grandson, Landon. He and his wife, Pamela reside in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.