Key Changes in University Leadership Announced

ATLANTA—Georgia State University President M. Brian Blake today announced several changes to the university’s senior leadership team to further enhance the institution and lead key areas.

Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard

Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, associate provost for faculty affairs, has been appointed interim provost and head of academic affairs. Dr. Parsons-Pollard has been at Georgia State since July 2020 and is responsible for creating and implementing faculty development programs to support and strengthen faculty in teaching and research, and leadership programming for department chairs and other administrators. She is responsible for developing and implementing faculty policies and procedures, managing university awards and recognition for faculty, and assisting with the promotion and tenure process.

Prior to her role at Georgia State, she was the vice provost for academic and faculty affairs at Monmouth University in New Jersey. At Monmouth, she was the state academic affairs representative and the regional accrediting body liaison officer. She also oversaw faculty affairs responsibilities, including interpreting the union contract and professional development for faculty, department chairs and deans. Dr. Parsons-Pollard was also appointed as the inaugural chair of the President's Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion.

Dr. Corrie Fountain

Dr. Corrie Fountain, director of faculty development, will serve as interim associate provost for faculty affairs. In her current role, Dr. Fountain’s responsibilities include the planning, implementation and evaluation of professional development workshops, seminars and other trainings for faculty, and assisting with faculty recruitment and retention efforts. She has a Ph.D. in educational policy studies with a concentration in research, measurement and statistics from Georgia State.

A national search for the senior vice president for academic affairs and provost will begin in the spring.

Dr. Nancy Kropf

Dr. Nancy Kropf, dean of Perimeter College, will step into a new role as senior vice president for strategic initiatives. She will begin the new position Feb. 1. Dr. Kropf has been dean at Perimeter since 2019 and has led the college to record graduation rates and unprecedented success.

She joined the university in 2006 as a director and professor in the School of Social Work, then became an associate dean in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in 2013. In 2015, then associate dean for research and strategic initiatives in the Andrew Young School, she was appointed dean of the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Dr. Cynthia Lester

Dr. Cynthia Lester, senior associate dean for academic affairs at Perimeter College, will serve as interim dean of Perimeter College. During her tenure in academic affairs, Dr. Lester implemented the first Department Chairs Onboarding Academy and the New Faculty Lunch and Learn Series, led department chair search processes which resulted in the successful hiring of five new department chairs and provided leadership for faculty search processes which yielded the successful hiring of 45 new faculty. Dr. Lester, a professor of computer science, previously served as associate dean of the Division of Math, Computer Science and Engineering and as associate dean of Georgia State’s Clarkston Campus.

Michael Parkerson

Michael Parkerson has been named vice president for Government and Community Affairs. Parkerson has served as interim vice president since July. He has been with Georgia State since 2018 and previously served as associate vice president for government relations at Kennesaw State University. His office serves as the principal liaison between the university and all elected officials and is responsible for overseeing communications and relations between Georgia State and local, state and federal government offices and legislative bodies.

Andrea Jones

Andrea Jones has been named vice president for Public Relations and Marketing Communications. Jones most recently served as interim vice president and has been with Georgia State for 13 years. During that time, she helped build the public relations and marketing team into an award-winning public relations and marketing operation, expanding its reach and scope.