Dean Ben Ayers has been named the University of Georgia's next senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. He will become UGA’s chief academic officer on June 30 and succeed S. Jack Hu, who was appointed chancellor of the University of California, Riverside. As dean of the Terry College, Ayers has overseen 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. 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.

Santanu Chatterjee, professor and associate dean for graduate programs, has been named interim dean of the Terry College. Chatterjee, the Harold A. Black Distinguished Professor of Economics, also serves as director of both the Full-Time MBA and the Master of Science in Business Analytics programs. He will begin his tenure as interim dean on June 30. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve the college in this capacity and know that we are approaching this transition from an exceptionally strong foundation,” Chatterjee said. “I am excited to support our faculty, staff, students and alumni as we work together to advance the college’s mission.” Chatterjee joined the UGA faculty in 2001 as an assistant professor in the Terry College.

Laku Chidambaram (MBA '84) has been named University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business Dean effective May 31. Chidambaram has served as interim dean of Price College since July 13, 2024. Prior to being named the college’s interim dean, he served as the senior associate dean for academic programs and engagement at Price College, where he oversaw the master’s, executive and undergraduate programs. Under Chidambaram’s leadership, Price College’s student enrollment reached a record 6,311 this fall, a 10% increase over the previous year and double the growth from two years ago. Chidambaram has taught doctoral, executive, master’s and undergraduate courses and received nine teaching awards from the three universities that he has served. 

New York City-based alumni and current students gathered at Google’s SoHo campus on June 17 for an evening of meaningful connection and networking. Students interning in the city this summer had the opportunity to meet fellow Dawgs, engage with Googlers, and connect with Terry College staff—all in an effort to make the city feel a little smaller. A huge thank you to our host, Google, and to Bridget Bambenek (BBA ’14, MAcc '15), for graciously welcoming the College and making this memorable evening possible.

Please help us congratulate the newest members of the Terry College Alumni Board and Young Alumni Board. We are excited for a great year ahead, with the leadership and talents that all members encompass. 

New members of the Alumni Board serve a three-year term and are responsible for Terry initiatives such as the Alumni Awards and Gala, Terry Third Thursday and the Professional Women’s Conference. 

Young Alumni Board members must be 35 years old or younger and serve a two-year term, and their initiatives include the Second Century Club, TerryConnect and 10 for Terry.

Chris Allen (BBA ‘92) has been appointed Executive Vice President and Health System Chief Financial Officer at UChicago Medicine.

Paul Chitwood (BBA ‘15) has been promoted to VP - Southeast Underwriting Manager at Chubb.

Jack Langner (BBA '19) graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Finance and certificates in Personal and Organizational Leadership and Applied Data Science. During his time at UGA, he was an Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA) Scholar, studied abroad, and served as president of the UGA Aviation Club—demonstrating his passion for both leadership and flight.

After graduation, Langner joined Textron’s Finance Leadership Development Program, gaining experience across Textron Aviation, Arctic Cat, and Bell Flight. He now serves as Manager of Finance for the V-22 Program at Bell Flight in Texas and is an instrument-rated private pilot.

Langner also serves as Textron’s UGA Ambassador, coordinating recruiting efforts and fostering student engagement each semester. He frequently returns to campus for alumni workshops, speaking engagements, and student mentoring. In recognition of his continued commitment to the Terry community, he was invited to join the Terry Young Alumni Board—a role that allows him to further support and engage with the college’s rising leaders.

Langner exemplifies the spirit of a Terry graduate—driven, values-based, and dedicated to making a difference. We are proud to highlight his achievements and his ongoing dedication to Terry and the University of Georgia.

The June Alumni of the Day were Anna Holder, Steve Garraty, Reid Markowitz, and Brandon Lee. Holder graduated in 2017 with a BBA in Marketing and is the Social Media Marketing Manager at RaceTrac. Garraty graduated in 1991 with a BBA in Finance and is a Regional Vice President of Sales at Salesforce. Markowitz graduated in 2023 with a BBA in Marketing and is a Catalog Analyst for L'Oreal. Lee graduated in 2023 with a BBA in Economics and is Director of Business Development for the Athens Rock Lobsters.

Each week, we feature an Alum of the Day, where alumni share their career, company, activities they enjoy in their downtime, favorite Georgia memories, and how they choose to give back to their community. The goal of the Alum of the Day series is to show current Terry students the types of career opportunities that exist and give them great contacts in their industry. 

Be sure to check out @terryalumni on Facebook and Instagram each Wednesday to see our next featured alum! Head to the Alum of the Day page for more information and to fill out the form. 

Music Business Alumni in New York City 

Join Music Business Dawgs at an alumni gathering in your city this summer. Reconnect with fellow alumni and friends, with David Barbe, Director of the Music Business Program. Don't miss this opportunity to network, reminisce, and celebrate the impact of the Music Business Program. Register now.

The Music Business Program is geared toward those aspiring to be leaders in the music industry. Students learn from key industry experts, including artists and managers, while gaining hands-on experience coordinating and marketing events, producing content, managing artists, and operating labels. The Music Business Program is open to all University of Georgia students and heavily relies on private donations to continue its programming. 

Since joining the Risk Management and Insurance Program at The University of Georgia in 1988, Dr. Rob Hoyt has shaped the lives and careers of thousands of Terry students through his teaching, mentorship, and leadership. Now, we have a special opportunity to honor his incredible impact by establishing a named professorship in his honor. We’re more than halfway to our fundraising goal—and with your support, we can cross the finish line before the June 30 deadline. This professorship will ensure Dr. Hoyt’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of RMI students and faculty.

Help us celebrate a remarkable educator and strengthen the future of the University of Georgia - C. Herman Terry Risk Management and Insurance Program. Make your gift today.

Make your impact before the fiscal year ends—there’s still time to give back to the Terry College! Your gift by June 30 supports student success, faculty excellence, and the future of business education. Every contribution counts and helps keep Terry strong.

Are you interested in mentoring a current student? Are you looking for a new job? Do you want to connect with classmates and share advice? TerryConnect is the hub for student-alumni networking for the Terry College. Students are encouraged to join and build relationships with Terry Alumni, leading to shared information and advice, hiring opportunities, and long-term networking. Whatever your question, whatever your need: TerryConnect can find a helping hand and keep you connected within the Terry community. Tip: Turn on post notifications so you don't miss any opportunities! 

Alumni gathered at Capital City Club for Tailgate with Terry & Tony on June 12.

MBA Alumni learned about NBCUniversal at the June event with Vicki Williams (MBA ‘00), Chief Human Resources Officer.

The Terry College is hiring a Director of Executive Programs based in Atlanta, GA at the Terry Executive Education Center. This leadership role oversees strategy, operations, and business development for our Executive Education Programs—connecting Terry faculty with professionals and organizations across Georgia and beyond. The Director will partner with Terry’s Atlanta-based MBA Programs, and the TEEC Facilities Team. The expected start date is August 1, 2025. To learn more and apply, click here.

Follow us on social to see what's happening with Terry alumni!

Have news to share with us?

Let us know!

Click here to send us a message.

Copyright © 2025 Terry College of Business 

Our mailing address is:
Terry College Office of Development & Alumni Relations
University of Georgia
600 S Lumpkin St 
Athens, GA 30602

The University of Georgia Foundation is registered to solicit in every state and provides state-specific registration information at http://www.ugafoundation.org.

communication preferences    | privacy policy | view in browser