OU names AVP for Global and Digital Learning

Provost Amy Thompson has announced the appointment of George T. Sipos, Ph.D., as Associate Vice President for Global and Digital Learning at Oakland University. He begins his tenure at OU on June 15, 2026.

In this new role, Dr. Sipos will be responsible for, among other things, facilitating the continued growth of international enrollment and online programs, establishing new global partnerships and opportunities in the region to expand online offerings and continuing education, and advocating for resources and support through grants and connections with donors, business and industry, and international partners.

"The extraordinary breadth of Dr. Sipos' knowledge and experience, along with his well-established track record of success in implementing innovative strategies to expand and enhance global and digital programs, gives us a great deal to look forward to with his arrival in June," said Thompson of the hiring.

Sipos will bring 25 years of experience in international higher education, global engagement, student enrollment and support, digital learning, partnerships and outreach, strategy design, implementation and management, cross-cultural communication, and program management and administration.

In addition to higher education internationalization and online education, Sipos is a scholar of Japan, translator of Japanese literature into Romanian, and holds a doctoral degree in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from The University of Chicago. He has published several volumes of studies (co-edited and single author) and numerous articles and book chapters in his field of Japanese literature and modernity.

His skills include international student recruitment and enrollment, networking and outreach, strategic partnerships, education-industry-government collaborations, innovation and creativity, alumni advancement and fundraising, cross-cultural communication and multilingual fluency and literacy. In fact, Sipos speaks eight languages at fluency levels ranging from native to conversational.

Sipos comes to Oakland from his role as Executive Director of Global Enrollment & Engagement at Gannon University, Erie, as well as Higher Education Internationalization & Digitalization Strategy Consultant at Agora & Akademeia, Sipos has also held global education and engagement positions with the University of Missouri-St. Louis, State University of New York, and Yamanashi Gakuin University, International College of Liberal Arts, Kofu, Japan.

"This is an exciting time for Oakland, as it's looking to expand its international and digital educational footprint and outreach," Sipos said. "I am ready to bring my contribution to the building of this new chapter in the history of the university."

He added, "Global and Online Learning are essential components of the university experience in the 21st century. Separately, but most importantly, intertwined, they enhance not only the enrollment, but also the educational and student experience, the university recognition and the research opportunities. Oakland has all it needs to be successful in these areas."