Fairfax, Virginia, USA: George Mason University has announced that Indian American scholar Ajay Vinze will serve as its interim provost during a transition period, as the current provost prepares to assume a new role in California.
The appointment follows the announcement that Provost Jim Antony will step down on March 1, 2026, to become provost at the University of San Diego. Vinze will collaborate with Antony through February 2026 to ensure a smooth handover of academic responsibilities, according to the university.
University President Gregory Washington commended Vinze’s qualifications, emphasising his broad experience in both academics and administration. “Ajay is an accomplished scholar and a valued advisor to our deans,” Washington stated. “I am eager to work alongside him as he guides the university through this interim phase.
Currently, the dean of the Costello College of Business, Vinze, expressed enthusiasm for the temporary role. “My commitment to the Costello College of Business remains strong, and I plan to return once a permanent provost is appointed,” he said. “Serving as interim provost provides an important opportunity to support the larger university community that has championed our college’s growth over the past three years.”
Vinze has led the Costello College of Business since 2022, overseeing its evolution into a fully named college and introducing interdisciplinary and modular degree programs designed to prepare students for the workforce.
Under his leadership, the college launched initiatives such as Costello on Wall Street, Patriot Pitch, and Camp Costello for first-year students, while promoting research collaborations and cross-campus curriculum development.
Before joining George Mason University, Vinze was dean of the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri from 2017 to 2022. He also spent nearly 20 years at Arizona State University, starting as an associate professor of Information Systems in 1998 and eventually becoming a full professor. At ASU, he directed the Centre for the Management of Information and served as interim chair of the Department of Information Systems.
Vinze began his academic career at Texas A&M University as an assistant professor of Information and Operations Management from 1988 to 1993, then became an associate professor until 1998.
His research focuses on technology innovation, data analytics, and emergency preparedness. He has published over 100 research papers and served in editorial roles for leading MIS journals.
Vinze received a B.Com (Honours) in Accounting from Shri Ram College of Commerce at the University of Delhi, followed by an MBA in Finance from the University of Connecticut in 1982, and later earned a PhD in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona in 1988.
