S. Jack Hu was appointed Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost in 2019. In this role, he oversees instruction, research, public service and outreach, and information technology at the University of Georgia. The vice presidents of these four areas, the deans of UGA’s 18 schools and colleges, and the campus dean of the Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership report to him. The Senior Vice Provost, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School also report to him, as do associate provosts for academic programs, faculty affairs, global engagement, the Morehead Honors College, and the libraries.

Biographical Summary

Michelle Cook plans, leads, and implements programs that span units across campus while providing strategic leadership in diversity and inclusive excellence, including oversight of the Office of Institutional Diversity. Cook co-facilitated the development of the University's 2025 Strategic Plan and works with academic and administrative units across campus to support institutional initiatives such as textbook affordability, the New Approaches to Promote Diversity and Inclusion grants program, which is sponsored by the President’s Office, and promoting female leadership development. She also chairs the university’s Diversity Advisory Council. 

Biographical Summary

Usha R. Rodrigues assists with all matters of academic administration, policy and planning, and acts on behalf of the Provost when he is not available. She also chairs the UGA Arts Council and oversees the Georgia Museum of Art, McBee Institute for Higher Education, and the Performing Arts Center. With the Dean and Director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, she jointly oversees the UGA Griffin campus.

Biographical Summary

Ron Walcott was named the inaugural Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School in 2020. In this role, he works with schools and colleges across campus to enhance the recruitment, support, and success of graduate students. 

Biographical Summary

Sarah Covert leads the Office of Academic Programs, which oversees faculty recognition awards originating in the Provost’s Office and works with campus units on lecture series and visiting speakers. In addition, she oversees leadership programs such as the University’s SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, the Women’s Leadership Fellows Program, and Current Administrators Training.

Biographical Summary

Elizabeth Weeks was named Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs in 2020. In this role, she directs UGA’s Office of Faculty Affairs and works closely with campus leaders on faculty-related policies, processes, and records while also overseeing a robust slate of professional development programming for faculty. Weeks is the Charles H. Kirbo Professor in the School of Law, where she has maintained her academic appointment and continues to teach. 

Biographical Summary

Toni P. Rogers has served in the Office of Academic Fiscal Affairs since 2003. She directs the Office of Academic Fiscal Affairs, which provides oversight for all financial and human resource affairs for units that report directly to the Provost’s Office, including the Vice President for Instruction. This position also provides support to the schools and colleges in academic fiscal matters as well as execution of hiring, retention, and other initiatives. 

Biographical Summary

Will Richardson joined the Provost’s Office in 2014 and previously served as Senior Human Resources Managing Consultant for the UGA Search Group, where he managed executive-level searches for the university. He earned his bachelor’s degree in religion and a master’s degree in public administration from UGA, and he is currently a student in the PhD program at the Institute for Higher Education. His responsibilities include directing the daily operations of the Office of the Provost, including management of the administrative staff, overall coordination of the Provost’s activities, and support for strategic academic initiatives, as well as serving as a liaison to Provost’s direct reports, the President’s Office, and external constituencies.

Mike Wooten joined the Provost’s Office in 2022 after serving seven years as communications director for the UGA College of Engineering. Previously, he served as a member of the university communications team at Georgia College and State University. He earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. His responsibilities include communicating the academic priorities of the Provost’s Office and its units through a variety of channels, including newsletters, news releases, social media posts, and website content.

Stacia Fink’s duties include providing administrative and project support for the office, scheduling meetings and booking travel for the Provost and Senior Vice Provost as well as event planning. She joined the Provost’s Office in 2015 after working as a human resources specialist for UGA Dining Services. Fink earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master's degree in educational psychology from UGA.

Sherri Bennett previously served as Senior Administrative Specialist and Assistant to the Vice President in the Office of Instruction. Previous to that role, she served as Assistant to the Dean in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. She earned her bachelor's degree from UGA and a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. Her responsibilities include providing support to the Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Chief of Staff, and support for the activities of the Office of Academic Programs. 

Jasmyne Willingham joined the Provost’s Office in August 2022 after working as the program director for a local Montessori school for nearly 10 years. Jasmyne’s duties include scheduling meetings for the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, booking travel, and providing administrative and project support for the office.

Hannah Gallant joined the Provost’s Office in 2022 after completing her master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Andrews University in southwest Michigan and held several journalism and communications editorial roles while completing her degrees. Hannah’s responsibilities include creating communications content for the Provost’s Office and its units in the form of news releases, social media posts, newsletters and website content as well as serving as liaison to the UGA Arts Council.