Michael D. Gebeke has been appointed as the new associate vice president for the University of Georgia’s Facilities Management Division, effective October 6. Gebeke previously served as associate vice president for facilities services at Illinois State University, where he led a team of 450 staff members responsible for managing over 1,100 acres and 187 buildings.
During his tenure at Illinois State, Gebeke oversaw major capital projects including a $62 million engineering building, a $20 million nursing program expansion, and the development of a 1,200-bed student housing and dining facility. He was also involved in the university’s COVID-19 steering team.
Gebeke’s prior experience includes senior leadership roles in facilities management at Kennesaw State University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Ohio University. He is recognized for his focus on innovation, efficiency, sustainability, and staff development. His credentials include being a Certified Facility Manager, Certified Educational Facilities Professional, and LEED Accredited Professional. Gebeke holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University and an MBA from Webster University.
In his new role at UGA, Gebeke will act as the senior facilities engineer and collaborate with University Architect Gwynne Darden to manage approximately 12 million gross square feet of facilities across 823 acres on UGA’s Athens campus. He will lead more than 850 FMD staff in maintaining campus infrastructure to support UGA’s academic and research missions.
“I look forward to working with Mike and the entire FMD team as we continue to advance UGA’s mission and long-term strategic goals,” said Ryan Nesbit, vice president for finance and administration. “I am deeply grateful to the search committee, chaired by Nick Place, dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and supported by the search firm Spelman Johnson and the UGA Search Group, as well as to the many members of the university community who participated in the process and provided invaluable feedback. I am also deeply grateful for the extraordinary leadership Clayton Wilcox has provided while serving as the AVP on an interim basis and for the exceptional service and outstanding work of the entire FMD team during this time of transition.”
