John H. Eaves, Ph.D.

Chairman Eaves' extended website

As Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, John H. Eaves, Ph.D., chairs a commission comprised of seven members who govern the county. Fulton County is comprised of 14 municipalities and is the most populated county in Georgia, serving as home to an estimated population of 1.1 million residents. The 2010 operating budget is $908 million.

Since assuming the Chairmanship in 2007, Eaves has championed and provided leadership in many critical areas. Chief among those is his leadership of the Budget Commission in the development and passage of four budgets that held the line on property taxes, created a more efficient operation through the elimination of waste and at the same time maintained jobs. All four budgets have included a surplus. Chairman Eaves has also provided:

• Leadership in the creation of three joint committees comprised of Fulton County and DeKalb County Commission members in the areas of Transportation, Housing and Healthcare to address mutual concerns affecting both counties.

• Leadership in changing the governance structure of Grady Hospital into a non-profit corporation and seeking alternative funding sources to support Grady Memorial Hospital in becoming self sustaining while ensuring quality service for the patients.

• Support of MARTA in securing additional funding to maintain operation and the level of service for riders.

• Support of a regional transportation plan that includes equitable financial participation of all governments involved.

• Leadership in the creation of the “One Fulton” initiative, which opposed legislation considered by the Georgia General Assembly to split Fulton County in half.

• Support of the utilization of existing funding to renovate facilities and improve resources within the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System.

• Leadership in the creation of the Mayoral Council providing a forum for the leaders of the respective municipalities to discuss issues, programs and concerns impacting their constituents.

• Leadership in creating a study committee to explore the feasibility of purchasing the Atlanta City Jail providing overcrowding relief at the Fulton County Jail and fulfilling mandates of the existing consent decree(s).

• Leadership in creating the Re-Entry Task Force comprised of all the heads of the Fulton County criminal justice agencies, a number of justice representatives from across the state, along with leaders in education, housing and employment for the purpose of formulating programs to reclaim young lives, reduce costs, and relieve overcrowding in the county jail in the future.

Chairman Eaves has also sought to combine his appreciation for cross cultural experiences and his extensive knowledge of educational leadership to support the youth of Fulton County. In 2007, he led the expansion of the Fulton County Youth Commission to include an international component to prepare young leaders for participation in a global economy through a student exchange program. Some 30 youths participating in the Fulton County Global Youth Leadership program have travelled to South Africa, Germany and Turkey.

Other initiatives of the Chairman include the clean-up by staff of Fulton Industrial Boulevard creating a safer environment for businesses and workers in the area; and the START Program, an initiative in partnership with the Atlanta Public School System and the Fulton County School System to encourage academic achievement and high school graduation.

Background

John Eaves, Ph.D. is a graduate of Morehouse College with a major in mathematics. The Jacksonville Florida native earned a master’s degree in Religion from Yale University and a doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Prior to becoming Chairman, Eaves served as Senior Program Officer of the Southern Education Foundation. For seven years Eaves led the Atlanta Regional Office of the Peace Corps as a Regional Manager. He is credited with the development and implementation of a comprehensive recruitment plan that significantly increased the number of American volunteers from the Atlanta region. Under his leadership, the Atlanta office moved up from the rank of tenth in volunteer recruitment to fourth.
His commitment to the community is evidenced by his past volunteer work.

While attending Morehouse College, he cultivated his passion for the underserved, acting as a program coordinator and big brother for Volunteers for Youth, an organization that paired college athletes with middle school youth. He also registered people to vote, volunteered in local political campaigns, was a coach tutor and a counselor for Upward Bound at Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University.

Chairman Eaves also formerly served as Chair of the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission, a member of the Atlanta Council for International Relations and a National Urban League Black Executive Exchange Program visiting professor.

Professionally, John Eaves, Ph.D. currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Education and director of the Higher Education Program at Argosy University.

A devoted father of three children, Chairman Eaves is married to Cheryl Regina Eaves.

Awards

Top Volunteer - Atlanta Public School System

Volunteer of the Year - Atlanta University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa

National School Volunteer Program Spokesperson designee

Outstanding Young Man of America

American Marshall Memorial Fellowship Recipient – German Marshall Fund'

Fulbright International Educators Administrators German Seminar Program

ulbright Senior Specialist Grant Recipient

Publications

Author - “Speakers of the House: Morehouse Men Reflect on their Journey to Manhood” – Publisher- Publishing Associates (2006).

Author - “The Morehouse Mystique: Lessons on how to develop Black Boys,” - Publisher- African American Images Publishing Company (2009).