Benjamin C. Ayers, dean of the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business, has been named the University of Georgia’s next senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, President Jere W. Morehead announced Thursday.
Ayers, who holds the Earl Davis Chair in Taxation, has led the Terry College of Business since 2014. He will become UGA’s chief academic officer on June 30 and succeed S. Jack Hu, who was recently appointed chancellor of the University of California, Riverside.
“Given the many opportunities and challenges facing the University of Georgia, our institution needs a proven leader and seasoned senior administrator to serve as its highest academic officer,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “With his experience and tremendous success as one of UGA’s longest-serving deans, Dr. Ben Ayers is ideally suited for this crucial role. I am confident that he has the background and skill set to serve as a trusted and able partner in guiding the university’s continued upward trajectory.”
As dean of the Terry College, Ayers oversees the University of Georgia’s second-largest academic unit, with more than 11,000 students; approximately 400 full-time faculty and staff; operations in three campus locations across the state (Athens, Atlanta and Griffin); and an operating budget of approximately $95 million.
Under Ayers’ leadership, the Terry College has achieved historic success, endowing four academic units while launching a highly competitive online MBA, a master’s in business analytics, a campus-wide Entrepreneurship Program, popular executive and dual degree programs, and market-driven certificates. Over the past decade, the college’s undergraduate enrollment has grown by 40%, graduate enrollment has risen 64%, and the college has achieved the highest employment rates for graduating students in its history.
“I am deeply honored to serve the University of Georgia in this important role,” Ayers said. “With extraordinary faculty and staff, talented students, outstanding leadership across campus and passionate alumni, the institution’s future is incredibly bright. I look forward to working with the UGA community to further advance our world-class learning environment and expand our positive impact through groundbreaking research and service.”
During his time as dean, Ayers has built the Terry College’s national reputation and research productivity to all-time highs, more than doubling the amount of college-funded research support. The college’s undergraduate programs are all ranked in the top 25 by U.S. News & World Report, and its full-time MBA program was recently selected as the No. 1 global value by Financial Times. Five Terry College departments now rank among the top 10 nationally for research productivity.
The Terry College has received record private support under Ayers’ leadership as well. Over the past decade, the college’s endowment has expanded from $90 million to nearly $300 million — a more than 225% increase — while donors have established 22 endowed faculty positions and 130 four-year scholarships to support students with financial need. As dean, Ayers spearheaded the construction of the world-class Business Learning Community, funded through a 50/50 match of state and private funds totaling $140 million. In addition, he expanded and renovated the Terry Executive Education Center in Atlanta and secured and renovated Studio 225, home of UGA’s popular student entrepreneurship program and a cornerstone of the UGA Innovation District.
Ayers earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude and his master’s of tax accounting from the University of Alabama and his doctorate in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to his appointment as dean, he served as director of UGA’s J.M. Tull School of Accounting for nine years. He joined the University of Georgia in 1996 as an assistant professor.
Ayers has earned numerous teaching awards at the school, college and university levels, including the Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. His research, meanwhile, has been recognized with national awards from both the American Taxation Association and the American Accounting Association.
Ayers previously served as president of the American Tax Association and currently serves on the board of directors of Synovus Bank’s Northeast Georgia Division and the board of advisors for the CFO Roundtable. At UGA, he co-chaired the last search for a senior vice president for academic affairs and provost in 2019.
“Above all, Dean Ayers has long been an engaged and thoughtful campus leader, fully invested in supporting the academic priorities of the institution,” Morehead said. “He is well respected by faculty, staff, students and alumni alike, and the deep and abiding relationships he has established with business and government leaders over the years will serve the University of Georgia extremely well.”
