The University of Tulsa Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Jennifer Airey has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Airey joined the university in 2008 as a professor in the Department of English in UTulsa’s Kendall College of Arts & Sciences. She has served in a variety of academic leadership roles during the past five years, most recently as dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for faculty affairs and academic initiatives. She succeeds George Justice, who is returning to faculty after three years as provost.
“Jennifer Airey has an impeccable and long-standing dedication to academic excellence. We can’t imagine finding anyone better suited to lead the academic enterprise,” said Board Chair Marcia MacLeod. “She is highly regarded across campus for her collaborative style with a track record of building effective, trusting relationships among faculty, administrators and trustees.”
Airey received her doctoral and master’s degrees in English literature from Boston University and her bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University. She has received multiple honors, including the UTulsa Outstanding Teacher Award, the Kendall College of Arts & Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award and the UTulsa Linda J. Lacey Award for Mentoring Excellence.
“I am thrilled to lead The University of Tulsa’s top-notch faculty who deliver an incredible academic experience to our students,” Airey said. “I look forward to working with each college to further raise the bar and elevate UTulsa on a regional and national stage.”
The board also approved the selection of Professor Akhilesh Bajaj as the new Genave King Rogers Dean of Collins College of Business effective July 1. He most recently served as James A. Chapman Chair in Business Information Systems and director of the School of Accounting & Business Information Systems.
Bajaj holds a doctorate in management information systems from the University of Arizona, an MBA from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He has been published in several journals and previously served as president of Faculty Senate. He succeeds former Mayor Kathy Taylor, who retired after serving as dean for three years.
“Akhilesh Bajaj is an enthusiastic supporter of our students, a trusted member of the faculty, and a highly regarded member of the business community. The board looks forward to working with him to advance the Collins College of Business,” MacLeod said.
The university also announced that College of Law Dean Oren Griffin would be returning to the faculty on July 1. Professor Marc Roark, who currently serves as associate dean of faculty development, will serve as interim dean of the college.