Past Provosts
Past Provosts: The role of the university provost — the university’s chief academic officer, or head of academic affairs — has existed at Georgia State for many years, though the specific title of this role changed through the decades.
Since 1990, the titles of provost and vice president for academic affairs have been combined to describe one single person as the chief academic officer of Georgia State in terms of both ceremonial role and administrative responsibilities.
The following is a list of individuals who have filled this role since the Board of Regents elevated Georgia State to the official status of a university in 1969.
A person who held the title of “vice president for academic affairs” is included here and is considered a past provost for the historical record by the University Library Archives, even if “provost” was not officially in their title.
William M. Suttles
prior to 1970: Vice President for Academic Affairs
1970-89: Executive Vice-President & Provost
Image: GSU University Relations
Eli A. Zubay
1971-81: Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: GSU University Relations
Harold E. Davis
1981-82: Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: GSU University Relations
Thomas B. Brewer
1982-88: Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: The Signal
Frederick A. Massey
1988-90: Acting Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: The Signal
Thomas J. La Belle
1990-92: Provost & Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: The Signal
Cleon C. Arrington
1992-94: Acting Provost & Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: The Signal
Ronald J. Henry
1994-2009: Provost & Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Image: GSU University Relations
Risa Palm
2009-2019: Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Read more about Dr. Palm’s research and achievements as Provost here.
Image: GSU PR & Marketing Communications
Wendy Hensel
2019 – 2021: Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Read more about former Provost Hensel’s time in leadership and some of her major achievements here.
Image: GSU PR & Marketing Communications
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard
2022 – Jan. 31, 2023: Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Feb. 1, 2023-: Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Image: GSU PR & Marketing Communications
Source: Georgia State University Archives, University Library. Photos are courtesy of the university archives’ digital collections (University Relations/PR archives and archives of The Signal).
— Jeremy Craig, Communications Manager, Office of the Provost