Staff Directory

S. Jack Hu
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
203 Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1651
(706) 542-0415
provost@uga.edu
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
Senior Vice Provost
205 Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1651
(706) 542-0415
mgcook@uga.edu
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
Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
209 Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1685
(706) 542-0415
rodrig@uga.edu
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
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School
Dean’s Office, Brooks HallAthens, Ga. 30602
(706) 542-6394
rwalcott@uga.edu
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
Interim Associate Provost for Academic Programs
204 Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1685
(706) 542-0415
covert@uga.edu
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
Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
225 New CollegeAthens, Ga. 30602-1685
(706) 542-9389
weeksleo@uga.edu
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
Associate Vice President for Academic Fiscal Affairs
212 New College Athens, 30602-1695(706) 583-0337
trogers@uga.edu
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
Assistant to the Provost
105 Administration Building Athens, Ga. 30602-1651(706) 583-0506
willr@uga.edu
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.

Sam Fahmy
Director of Communications for Academic Affairs
219 New CollegeAthens, Ga. 30602-1651
(706) 583-0727
sfahmy@uga.edu
Sam Fahmy joined the Provost’s Office in 2012 and previously served as News Director for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from UGA and a master’s degree in science and technology journalism from Texas A&M. His responsibilities include overseeing external communications for the Provost’s Office and its initiatives.

Sherri Bennett
Program Coordinator, Academic Programs
Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1695
(706) 542-0383
sherri@uga.edu
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.

Stacia Fink
Administrative Specialist for the Provost & Special Projects
Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1695
(706) 542-0415
staciaf@uga.edu
Stacia Fink’s duties include providing administrative and project support for the office, scheduling meetings and booking travel for the Provost, event planning and support for central classroom scheduling. She joined the Provost’s Office in 2015 after working as a human resources specialist for UGA Food Services. Fink graduated from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Sandra Osborn
Administrative Specialist
Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1695
(706) 542-5806
sosborn@uga.edu
Sandra Osborn provides administrative support to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and also supports the UGA Arts Council.