A Message from Emory’s Incoming Provost

Dear Emory Community,

I am deeply honored to serve as your next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs beginning Nov. 1. I approach this charge with confidence, clarity, and deep respect for the responsibility it carries, especially at this important moment for our institution and higher education more broadly.

As provost, I will advance Emory's academic mission by enhancing the conditions in which our students thrive and our faculty produce life-changing, life-saving scholarship and research. The breadth of this work—from the arts and humanities to clinical research and AI—distinguishes Emory as one of the nation's finest institutions. Even with all we have achieved, I believe we have tremendous potential to create even greater impact in the lives of our students and in the service of humanity.

Many of you may not know that I first encountered Emory in 2018 as part of an external review team. During that visit, I walked across the quad and throughout campus, marveling at the vibrant diversity of the community, the world-class resources, and treasures like the Michael C. Carlos Museum. I left with a powerful impression that Emory is a place of uncommon excellence where exceptional faculty shape the futures of both our students and our global society.

While the landscape of higher education has shifted dramatically in the seven years since that first visit, my conviction about Emory's excellence has not. My priorities will be to fortify and expand on our strengths by fostering collaboration and transparency, enriching the holistic student experience, investing in faculty success, and building systems that truly support our academic mission.

As I begin this new chapter, I carry extraordinary gratitude for my time as dean of Oxford College. While I was initially drawn to Oxford's campus and commitment to students, I’ve been even more deeply impressed over the years by the remarkable colleagues with whom I served. I am so proud of all we have accomplished together, including launching a highly collaborative strategic planto guide Oxford into the future.

Earlier today, Interim Provost Lanny Liebeskind and I announced to the Oxford community that Molly McGehee, the college’s senior associate dean for academic affairs, will serve as interim dean effective November 1. I am confident that Oxford and its students will thrive under the leadership of Dr. McGehee, our strong executive team, and our dedicated faculty and staff while we make plans to launch a national search for a permanent dean in the summer of 2026.

Most of my time at Emory has been at Oxford College, so the Atlanta campus offers both familiar ground and new territory to explore. Throughout the next few months, I'll meet with academic leaders, faculty, staff, and students to learn about you and your work, understand our opportunities, and hear candidly about our challenges. I am also grateful to Interim Provost Liebeskind for staying on as senior vice provost for academic affairs through the end of the year to help ensure a smooth transition—another example of his longtime and steadfast service to Emory.

My leadership is rooted in nearly two decades within Catholic and Jesuit higher education and guided by the Ignatian value of cura personalis, which means “care for the whole person.” This principle reminds me that leadership is about what we accomplish, as well as how we attend to one another’s well-being and humanity. I approach this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of stewardship, taking seriously who you are, what you do, and what you need to thrive at Emory.

Our success depends on genuine partnership and open communication. I am eager to discover the ways, large and small, that you contribute to this amazing institution, and to work together with Interim President Sears, the Board of Trustees, the University Senate, and our leadership team to ensure you have what you need to advance your vital work.

Thank you for entrusting me with this responsibility. I'm eager to work alongside you in the journey ahead.

Badia Ahad
Dean, Oxford College of Emory University
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (effective Nov. 1)