Hugh Ruppersburg, a long-serving administrator at UGA, has been named interim vice provost for academic affairs. His appointment is effective Aug 1.
Ruppersburg served as interim dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences from 2011 to 2012 and has served as its senior associate dean since 2005. Earlier this year, he was named University Professor, an honor bestowed selectively on UGA faculty who have had a significant impact on the university in addition to fulfilling their normal academic responsibilities.
“Dr. Ruppersburg has repeatedly demonstrated his deep commitment to the University of Georgia by serving with distinction in a variety of administrative roles,” said Interim Provost Libby V. Morris. “He brings a wealth of experience to the provost’s office, and I look forward to working with him during this transition period.”
The vice provost works closely with the associate provosts for the Honors Program, institutional diversity, international education and the libraries. The directors of the Office of Faculty Affairs, Institute of Higher Education and Skidaway Institute of Oceanography report to the vice provost, who also works closely with the UGA Arts Council. The position of vice provost previously was held by Morris, who is serving as interim provost while a national search is being conducted for UGA’s next permanent provost.
Ruppersburg’s service to UGA includes leadership roles with University Council, including a year as chair of the Executive Committee, and service on several program review committees as well as task forces and advisory committees on graduate education, distance education and other campus-wide issues. He also organized and directed the Franklin College first-year seminar program, a forerunner of the First-Year Odyssey program. In addition, Ruppersburg has remained active as a teacher and scholar whose work has focused on the literature of Georgia and the American South.