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New Provost Sees MBA director, assurance of learning coordinator
MGA as ‘Hidden Gem’ for GeorgiaWebMBA, Southern Association of
Poised for Growth Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
accreditation liaison, associate vice president for
By Sheron Smith Academic Affairs, and deputy provost.
In this Q&A with MGA Today, Anderson talks
Dr. Jonathan R. Anderson, MGA’s new provost and vice about what led him into higher education, his
president for Academic Affairs, visits with nursing students at early impressions of Middle Georgia State, and his
the grand opening of Oak Hall’s STEM wing on the Warner goals for helping the University move forward.
Robins Campus. SHERON SMITH
Have you always wanted a career in higher edu-
In January 2018, Dr. Jonathan R. Anderson cation? What brought you into the profession?
became provost and vice president for I have always been interested in learning and teach-
Academic Affairs at Middle Georgia State ing. While I was an undergraduate student, I had
University. The provost is the University’s chief the chance to work closely with a few professors and
academic officer and serves as the chief executive administrators that helped shape my future plans.
in the absence of the president. I was fortunate to grow up in an environment that
Anderson began his professional life in the valued education. Not being sure where I would end
financial services industry, working as a liability up working, I knew from a young age I wanted to
specialist in his home state of Utah before end up somewhere in education. I have taught
taking loan officer positions in the Atlanta area. middle and high school, coached sports at both
He moved into education in 1999, becoming levels, served as a professor and now enjoy
a business teacher and coach at Bremen High administration. Higher education administration is
School in Bremen, Ga. rarely a job you aspire to as there is such a long road
He holds a Ph.D. in business administration: to get there, but it has been a great fit for me and I
management from the University of Kentucky, a have learned a lot along the path.
master’s in business education from what is now
the University of West Georgia, and a bachelor’s What attracted you to the provost’s job at Mid-
degree in Sociology from Utah State University. dle Georgia State? I believe Middle Georgia State
After earning his Ph.D., Anderson joined the is positioned to be the next great success story in the
faculty of the University of West Georgia. In near- state. As such, when this position opened, I was very
ly 15 years of experience at the Carrollton-based interested. During the interview process, it became
university, Anderson served as associate dean and clear that the institution had some challenges but
that there were good people embedded through-
out the five campuses and that the institution was
willing to grow and change. That willingness to
change is not found in many institutions. President
Blake has led an effort to position the institution for
growth. I feel fortunate to be here at this point in
the institution’s history. It seems clear that the
foundation is built for us to grow and move
forward. I am grateful to be a part of MGA’s future.
What potential do you see in MGA that is not yet
realized? As an institution with a blended mission,
MGA serves a broad range of students. Some are
well prepared for university study, others still need
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