Benjamin C. Ayers
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Benjamin C. Ayers began his tenure as the University of Georgia’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost on June 30, 2025. As the institution’s chief academic officer, he works closely with leaders across campus to advance the institution’s excellence in teaching, research and service.
The deans of UGA’s 20 schools and colleges and the vice presidents for instruction, research, public service and outreach, and information technology report to Ayers. The vice provost for academic affairs, the vice provost for inclusive excellence and academic engagement, and the vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School also report to the provost, along with associate provosts for academic programs, faculty affairs, global engagement and the libraries.
Prior to his appointment as provost, Ayers served as dean of the highly regarded Terry College of Business for 11 years. Under his leadership, the college’s undergraduate and graduate programs were consistently ranked among the nation’s best. He continues to hold the Earl Davis Chair in Taxation in the college.
During Ayers’ tenure as dean, the college launched a series of successful academic programs, grew its undergraduate and graduate enrollment, and increased merit- and need-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, and student veterans. Additionally, the college endowed four academic departments and institutes, significantly expanded study abroad opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and endowed 22 chairs and professorships to support leading faculty.
Ayers serves on the Board of Synovus Bank’s Northeast Georgia Division. He earned his doctorate in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and has received many teaching awards at the school, college, and university levels and national research awards from the American Taxation Association and American Accounting Association. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, he worked for KPMG in Atlanta and Tampa and Complete Health Inc. in Birmingham.
