Georgia State Provost Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Named AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education Class of 2026-27 Participant

ATLANTA - Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Nicolle Parsons-Pollard has been selected as a participant for 2026-27 in the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education.

The institute is a six-month program through the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) of Universities and Colleges designed to cultivate a pipeline of exceptional leaders from all backgrounds who are poised to serve as college and university presidents. It includes symposia, workshops and one-on-one mentoring to connect participants with top higher education leaders.

Guidance from participating leaders, including current and former college and university presidents, will discuss pressing challenges facing institutions of higher learning and how to navigate them.

"Connections and collaboration matter in the leadership of academic institutions, both internally and across higher education more broadly," Parsons-Pollard said. "I am grateful to AGB for this generous opportunity, and I am excited to engage with peers in ways that allow me to contribute my own expertise and grow through their perspectives and knowledge."

Parsons-Pollard has served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs since 2023 after service as interim provost since 2022. Prior to this leadership role, she was appointed in 2020 as Georgia State's associate provost for faculty affairs.

In her role as provost, Parsons-Pollard is the university's chief academic officer. Among her responsibilities are, but not limited to, the development and implementation of GSU's academic programs and policies, direction for international initiatives and study abroad, institutional effectiveness and assessment of learning outcomes and programs.

Additionally, she directs activities in the recruitment, hiring and retention, and promotion processes for faculty positions.

Parsons-Pollard also plays a key leadership role in Georgia State's BluePrint to 2033 strategic plan, with oversight of initiatives that are bringing the plan's goals into reality.

A professor of criminal justice, prior to her time at GSU she completed an American Council on Education (ACE) fellowship during the 2014-15 academic year. Some of her previous academic leadership positions include vice provost for academic and faculty affairs at Monmouth University, and assistant vice provost for academic operations at Virginia State University.

She earned her Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in public policy and administration, as well as a master's degree in criminal justice and a bachelor's in mass communications from VCU.

For more about Parsons-Pollard, click here. For more about the institute, visit the AGB website.

Story by Jeremy Craig, communications manager for the Office of the Provost