Former President Jimmy Carter joins board of trustees of Mercer University in Ga.

MACON, Ga. – Former President Jimmy Carter has become a member of the board of trustees at Mercer University.

The Telegraph of Macon reports (http://bit.ly/VYuU7c) that Carter joined the board at its meeting Friday in the Georgia city.

The 88-year-old Carter told the newspaper he was "very excited about what's happening at Mercer" and was pleased to join the board, which has responsibility for overall policy-making for the college.

Deanna Congileo, a spokeswoman for The Carter Center, says Mercer's board and the center's board will be the only ones on which Carter serves.

Mercer President Bill Underwood said Carter brings a wealth of experience and that it was a "great honor for our institution to have someone of his stature."

During Friday's meeting, the board approved three new graduate degree programs.