Georgia Southern University has officially named Dr. Avinandan Mukherjee as its next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Dr. Mukherjee, an esteemed academic leader with a global perspective, is set to assume his role on July 1, bringing with him a wealth of experience in institutional leadership, research, and academic innovation.
A Distinguished Academic Career
Dr. Mukherjee has built an illustrious career spanning more than 16 years in academic leadership roles.
Since 2022, he has served as the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Marshall University, overseeing all academic functions, student affairs, research, and enrollment management across nine colleges and two schools.
Prior to this role, he served as interim provost from 2021 to 2022, demonstrating his ability to lead institutions through transitional periods effectively.
He has also held prominent positions as dean of the Lewis College of Business at Marshall University and the College of Business at Clayton State University.
His contributions to academia extend beyond administration; as chair of the marketing department at Montclair State University in New Jersey, he played a crucial role in establishing an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in environmental management.
A Global Educator and Researcher
Dr. Mukherjee’s impact on academia is truly international. He has taught as a full-time or visiting faculty member in nine countries, including the United States (Marshall, Clayton State, Montclair State, and Penn State), the United Kingdom (University of Bradford), Singapore (Nanyang Technological University), and India (Indian Institute of Management).
He has also been a visiting faculty member at prestigious institutions such as Rutgers Business School, New Jersey Institute of Technology, INSEAD, Copenhagen Business School, ESC Toulouse, and Kathmandu University.
An accomplished researcher and tenured professor of marketing, Dr. Mukherjee’s work has been cited over 7,000 times, boasting an h-index of 33 and an i10-index of 44.
He has published over 100 scholarly articles in high-impact journals such as the Journal of Retailing, Psychology & Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research, and Communications of the ACM.
He is also the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing.
His book, An Integrated Approach to Environmental Management, co-authored and published by John Wiley & Sons, highlights his interdisciplinary approach to research and academia.
Vision for Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero expressed enthusiasm for Dr. Mukherjee’s appointment, emphasizing his extensive experience in academic leadership, global perspective, and commitment to discovery and innovation.
Marrero stated,
“His vision for academic excellence, research advancement, and student success perfectly aligns with Georgia Southern’s values.
His leadership will ensure that Georgia Southern reaches its stated goals of graduating career-ready students, advancing economic development in the region, and elevating our public impact research agenda.”
Dr. Mukherjee himself conveyed his excitement about taking on this leadership role, stating:
“It is a great honor to take on the role of provost and executive vice president at Georgia Southern University, and I do so with great humility and excitement for the possibilities ahead. Georgia Southern has achieved tremendous momentum under President Kyle Marrero’s visionary leadership, and I am excited to become a part of this transformative journey.”
Dr. Mukherjee emphasized the evolving landscape of higher education and the need for innovation, adaptability, and resilience. He looks forward to working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to nurture academic excellence, foster institutional partnerships, drive impactful research, and create an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.
Contributions Beyond Academia
Beyond his academic and research contributions, Dr. Mukherjee has played an active role in various organizations.
He has led executive development programs and consulted for corporations across the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, India, China, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Malaysia.
His leadership was recognized in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Who’s Who in Education in 2017.
Dr. Mukherjee has also served as the president of the Society for Advancement of Management and the Midwest Business Administration Association.
He has been a board member for the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, the Clayton (Atlanta) Chamber of Commerce, and the New Jersey Advertising Club.
Additionally, he has worked with organizations such as the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the University System of Georgia.
Educational Background
Dr. Mukherjee holds a Doctorate in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, one of India’s premier business schools.
Part of his doctoral research was conducted at ESSEC Business School in Paris and was affiliated with the International Motor Vehicle Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.
He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University, India.
To further strengthen his leadership skills, he has completed executive education programs at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Additionally, he has been part of the AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance in Higher Education.
