Advancing Academic Excellence
Georgia Southern University is a dynamic institution of higher learning. We stand ready to serve our region, nation, and world through our public impact research mission. Georgia Southern offers our students a world of opportunities to excel and pursue their curiosity guided by world-class teacher-scholars who are creating significant research and scholarship.
The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs serves as the chief academic officer at Georgia Southern, reporting to the president. Working closely with the President and an extensive group of campus colleagues, he guides strategic planning and policy development, promotes campus-wide academic initiatives, and defines budgetary and development priorities. The Provost also oversees the university’s ten colleges and the University Libraries.
As the chief academic officer, I am honored to lead and support a dynamic academic community committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. Georgia Southern’s mission—to prepare students to think, lead, teach, and serve—resonates deeply with my own values as an academic leader.
With more than 130 degree programs across nine colleges and three vibrant campuses, Georgia Southern combines the rigor of a nationally recognized research institution with the personalized experience of a student-centered university. Our faculty are dedicated scholars and educators who bring innovation into the classroom and impact into the community.
As we look to the future, I am focused on fostering academic innovation, expanding access to transformative learning opportunities, and ensuring every student is equipped to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We will do this by working collaboratively across disciplines, embracing inclusive excellence, and building strong partnerships within and beyond our region.
I invite you to explore the remarkable academic programs and initiatives underway at Georgia Southern. Together, we will continue to elevate the university’s mission—and empower the next generation of learners, leaders, and changemakers.
Avinandan “Avi” Mukherjee
Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs
About Dr. Mukherjee
Dr. Avinandan “Avi” Mukherjee is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Southern University, where he provides leadership for all academic programs, faculty development, and student learning initiatives across the university’s three campuses.
An accomplished academic leader with global perspective, Dr. Mukherjee brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education, marked by a deep commitment to innovation, student achievement, and collaborative excellence. Prior to joining Georgia Southern, he served as Provost and Senior Vice President at Marshall University, where he led strategic initiatives in academic transformation, enrollment growth, and student success. His leadership helped strengthen academic quality while expanding access and opportunity.
Earlier in his career, he served as Dean of Marshall’s Lewis College of Business and the founding Dean of the College of Business at Clayton State University in Georgia. He has also held faculty and administrative appointments at Penn State Erie, Brunel University in London, and the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.
Dr. Mukherjee earned his Ph.D. in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad—one of the top business schools in the world—and a bachelor’s degree in Economics with honors from St. Xavier’s College, University of Calcutta. His teaching and research interests span marketing strategy, global business, and innovation in higher education.
Known for his student-focused leadership and inclusive approach, Dr. Mukherjee is passionate about fostering environments where ideas thrive, faculty are empowered, and students are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing world. At Georgia Southern, he is committed to building on the university’s academic strengths while championing a culture of continuous improvement and impact.
Priorities and Initiatives
Student Success
Advancing student success is our primary mission. Our faculty are not just world-renowned scholars, they are also excellent teachers. They are greatly invested in student success—they guide and mentor students throughout their academic pursuits and they prepare them for where they want to go in life and to craft their own story. We believe there is no greater benchmark for our success as a university than a graduate with a great career.
Public Impact Research
Georgia Southern is a public impact research university. Faculty research, scholarship, and creative activities improve lives and serve our communities—locally, regionally, nationally and globally.
Empowering Faculty Excellence
Faculty members are a cornerstone of the Georgia Southern community, shaping students’ lives through mentorship and expertise. The University offers training and resources to help faculty excel in teaching, scholarship and more.
