Meet Craig Burgess, ESQ

Craig E. Burgess is a senior legal and compliance leader with nearly three decades of experience guiding organizations through complex challenges, strengthening governance structures, and advancing institutional integrity. 

At Morehouse, he provides strategic counsel to the President and Board of Trustees, oversees the College’s legal and compliance operations, and helps ensure that institutional decisions, policies, and practices reflect the highest standards of accountability and excellence. He also serves as a key governance partner to the Board of Trustees, shaping meeting agendas, advising committee chairs, and strengthening governance processes and corporate records to support effective, mission-aligned oversight.

Burgess’s career spans executive legal roles in higher education, corporate practice, and complex litigation. Before entering higher-education leadership, he built a distinguished record as a litigator, serving as first-chair counsel in more than forty cases tried to verdict across state and federal courts during his tenure as an associate and partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, and as senior litigation counsel for BellSouth/AT&T, overseeing multi-million dollar disputes, managing outside counsel, and conducting workplace investigations. 

A licensed attorney in both Georgia and South Carolina, he later served as General Counsel at South Carolina State University and Columbus State University, where he developed and led CSU's inaugural Office of Legal Affairs, Ethics & Compliance, integrating legal services, ethics, compliance, Title IX, contract management, workplace investigations, internet security, and risk management into a unified framework.

A former Division I basketball player and All–Southern Conference and Tournament honoree at The Citadel, Burgess brings a grounded appreciation for teamwork, preparation, and resilience to his leadership approach. These early experiences continue to shape his commitment to fostering an environment where excellence and integrity guide institutional progress.

Beyond his work on campus, Burgess serves on the Advisory Board of LawVu, an international legal operations platform, where he contributes to national thought leadership on legal technology, operations, and organizational efficiency. He also serves on the Advisory Board of EIIA (Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators), a national consortium supporting insurance, risk management, and compliance services for more than 130 institutions. These roles help inform Morehouse’s approach to governance innovation, compliance strategy, and operational best practices.

Burgess has also been deeply engaged in community and civic leadership throughout his career. He has served with organizations such as 100 Black Men, the United Way, the Trident Urban League, and the Columbus Convention and Trade Center Authority, Columbus Urban Debate League, along with other initiatives focused on public service, civic engagement, and economic development. His involvement reflects a long-standing commitment to strengthening communities and supporting institutions that advance opportunity and well-being.

DOWNLOADS

• Craig Burgess – Hi-Res Image
• Craig Burgess – Biography