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
204 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

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 CollegeAthens, 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
Special Assistant to the Provost
209 Administration BuildingAthens, 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.

Mike Wooten
Director of Communications for Academic Affairs
106 Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1651
(706) 583-0727
mwooten@uga.edu
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
Executive Assistant & Office Manager
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 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
Program Coordinator, Academic Programs
201 New CollegeAthens, 30602-16955
(706) 542-0383
sherri@uga.edu
Sherri Bennett joined the Provost’s Office in 2020 after serving as Senior Administrative Specialist and Assistant to the Vice President in the Office of Instruction. Prior 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 the coordination and implementation of programing initiatives in collaboration with the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the Office of Faculty Affairs, and the Morehead Honors College.

Hannah Gallant
Communications Specialist
Administration BuildingAthens, Ga. 30602-1695
706-583-0728
hgallant@uga.edu
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.