Biography
Remaining active in teaching and scholarship, Beheruz N. Sethna considers among his highest honors being elected Honors Professor of the Year and being the faculty advisor for student research teams which won the National Social Sciences Association competition, and for multiple student research teams which has received national recognition at the National Collegiate Honors Council and the National Council for Undergraduate Research. He has taught undergraduates every year since arriving at UWG, even while serving in the University System Office. Over the years, seven of his courses (including the one he currently teaches) have won recognition in instructional innovation in nationwide competitions.
Dr. Sethna is the first person from any ethnic minority to become President of a predominantly white or racially-integrated University or College in Georgia. He is also the first known person of Indian origin ever to become President of a University anywhere in the United States.
Education
- Ph.D. in Business, Columbia University, New York, NY—1976
- Master of Philosophy, Columbia University, New York, NY—1975
- M.B.A., Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad—1973
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay—1971
- Certified Systems Professional—1985 - present
- Advanced M.I.S. Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN—1986
- Institute for Educational Management, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA—1991
Experience
In 2006-2007, served 14 months as the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer of the University System of Georgia, with functional responsibility for all 35 public universities and colleges in Georgia in Academic and Student Affairs, Strategic Research and Analysis, and Information and Instructional Technology, plus line (reporting) responsibility for all 15 Comprehensive Universities and a Research Institute. Also, in 1999-2000, served in an interim capacity as Senior Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia.
Served as 2000-2001 President of the Georgia Association of Colleges—an association of Presidents of all 58 public and private universities and colleges in the state of Georgia.
Prior tenured experience at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX (5 years as named Professor, Dean and Int. Exec. VP), and at Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY (13 years in all professorial ranks, Department Chair, Director of Graduate Programs).
Prior corporate experience in multinational companies such as Lever Brothers and Richardson-Vicks, now Procter and Gamble, and in Clarion-McCann Advertising.
Author of 60+ scholarly papers, research grants, book. Many national and international honors. Recipient of a Fulbright senior scholarship by the United States Information Agency, for teaching and research overseas.
Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, 2006.
Commissioner, COC - Southern Association for Colleges and Schools, 2004 - present.
Examples of Honors and Awards
- Named Honors Professor of the Year by the Student Honors Council—1999
- Named Carroll County Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce—1999
- Named Honorary Alumnus of the University of West Georgia—1999
- Named Distinguished Alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)—2000
- Presented a Resolution of Commendation from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia—2000
- Along with UWG, Named #1 Mover, Shaker and Newsmaker in Carroll County—2002
- Presented a Resolution of Commendation by the Senate of the State of Georgia—2003
- Named among 100 Most Influential Georgians—2003, 2006
- Course instructor and research advisor for student team that won the #1 research prize in the country at the National Social Sciences Association Meeting and student teams recognized at NCUR and NCHC—2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Honored by the Decision Sciences Institute for one the three most innovative course submissions in the U.S. for seven years—1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2004
- Over 200 regional, national and international media appearances on television, radio and in the press. These include the CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel and CNN’s American Stories.
- Honored by the Georgia Department of Education for work with the Georgia Read More program—2007
- Awarded the Cornerstone Award by the Vice Chancellor for Facilities in the University System of Georgia. The award is not an annual award and is only given in recognition of an individual who has played a significant and pivotal role in the development of a USG campus. Dr. Sethna was recognized for carrying out a visionary UWG Master Plan that manifests the policy of the BOR on campus development.
Family
Married 33+ years to Madhavi Sethna, who has three master’s degrees, has completed coursework towards her doctorate, has national and university teaching awards and is a faculty member.
Children: Anita Sethna, MD, graduate of Georgia Tech and Emory Medical School, currently a Resident at Emory, married to Robert Townsend Cole, MD, Chief Resident at Emory; and Shaun Sethna, JD, graduate of Georgia Tech and Columbia Law School, currently an Attorney-at-Law.
Active in the community
Rotarian with perfect attendance for more than 25 years.
Several current and past Chamber and board memberships at the local, regional and state levels.
Frequently teaches reading to, and reads to, elementary school children in the area.
