Cobb Chamber names KSU president as 2028 board chairwoman Archives

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The Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors has named Kathy “Kat” S. Schwaig, President of Kennesaw State University, as its 2028 Chairwoman of the Board.

Schwaig will succeed Pete Quinones, CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Inc., who begins his term as Chairman of the Board in 2027. Schwaig will start her term as Board Chairwoman in January 2028 and will serve as Board Chair-Elect in 2027.

“The Cobb Chamber plays a vital role in bringing together business, education, and community leaders to strengthen our region,” Schwaig said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to working alongside the Chamber’s outstanding Board, leadership, members, and partners to build on its strong foundation and create even greater opportunities for Cobb County.”

Schwaig’s ties to Kennesaw State span more than two decades of service, with a career path that has carried her from dean to provost and now to president — a role she has held since 2022 after first serving as interim president in 2021. She previously served as dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business from 2012-19 and as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs from 2019-2021, facilitating KSU’s transition to a Carnegie-designated R2 doctoral research institution and placing it among an elite group of U.S. colleges and universities.

Today, Schwaig leads one of Georgia’s largest public universities, serving more than 50,000 students. Under her leadership, KSU launched the Taking Flight strategic plan and the FLIGHT student success program, introduced more than 50 new academic offerings, and invested significantly in academic and research infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center. Since 2022, KSU has nearly tripled its research expenditures and, in 2026, became a member of the Georgia Research Alliance. In athletics, Schwaig led the Owls’ transition to Conference USA in 2024, with KSU earning five conference championships to date. She also guided Kennesaw State through the public phase of The Campaign for KSU, the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which surpassed its $200 million goal and secured the largest single gift in KSU history.

Schwaig is a longtime member and community partner of the Cobb Chamber and SelectCobb. She has served on the Chamber’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and SelectCobb Board since 2022. She chaired SelectCobb from 2024-25, served on the Cobb Chamber/SelectCobb Strategic Plan Task Force in 2022, participated in the Chamber’s Washington, D.C., Fly-In, and has been an active member of the Chairman’s Circle. She also led Kennesaw State’s relaunch of HatchBridge Incubator, in close partnership with the Cobb Chamber. HatchBridge has helped more than 290 startups raise over $37.4 million in follow on funding since 2023. Schwaig was a member of the 2013 Honorary Commanders class and previously served as a mentor in the Chamber’s mentoring program.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and previously served on boards for the Cobb Community Foundation, Mount Paran Christian School, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Cobb County, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Engage Scholarship Consortium, and the Alliance for Children Everywhere.

Schwaig was named to Georgia Trend magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians list in 2025 and 2026 and was recognized among Atlanta magazine’s Atlanta 500 in 2026. Her honors also include the Town Center Community Citizen of the Year Award in 2025, the Cobb Chamber’s Mack Henderson Public Service Award in 2023, Atlanta magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award in 2015, the Oscar Burnett Award of Distinguished Achievement in Business from the Morris Brown College Foundation in 2013, and the Cobb Executive Women’s Glass Ceiling Award in 2013.

A native of central Texas, Schwaig holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Information Systems from Baylor University, a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of South Carolina.

“Kat has been an extraordinary partner to the Cobb Chamber and a respected leader in our community for decades,” said Sharon Mason, President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber. “Her vision, collaborative leadership, and deep commitment to workforce and economic development, innovation, partnerships and entrepreneurship make her exceptionally well suited to lead our Board. I look forward to working alongside her as we continue to strengthen our community together.”

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