Santanu Chatterjee has been appointed as the 13th dean of the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, effective April 1.
Santanu Chatterjee, a distinguished Indian American scholar and educator, has been named the 13th dean of the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia (UGA). Chatterjee, who has been an integral part of the college since 2001, will officially assume his new role on April 1, following his tenure as interim dean and associate dean for graduate programs.
UGA President Jere W. Morehead expressed confidence in Chatterjee’s ability to enhance the college’s reputation as one of the leading public business schools in the United States. Morehead highlighted Chatterjee’s impressive track record in teaching, scholarship, and administration as key factors in his appointment.
Chatterjee holds the Dr. Harold A. Black Distinguished Professorship of Economics and has made significant contributions to the Terry College during his time there. Prior to his appointment as dean, he directed both the full-time MBA program and the Master of Science in Business Analytics program, showcasing his leadership in graduate education.
He succeeds Benjamin C. Ayers, who led the college from 2014 until his recent appointment as UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost in 2025. Chatterjee expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “It is an honor and privilege to be named dean of a college that has been my professional home for over two decades.” He emphasized his commitment to fostering a globally engaged, student-centered, and future-ready business school.
Since 2014, Chatterjee has played a pivotal role in elevating the full-time MBA program, contributing to the college’s national and international recognition. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding interdisciplinary offerings, including the introduction of dual-degree programs in collaboration with the College of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Social Work, and the College of Pharmacy. He also spearheaded the Pathway MBA for STEM undergraduates and the 2+2 MBA Early Admissions Program, enhancing access for high-achieving students pursuing graduate business education.
During his interim dean tenure, Chatterjee successfully led initiatives to secure substantial new donor commitments, which included the establishment of four new endowed chairs and professorships. He collaborated with the college’s development and alumni relations team to cultivate philanthropic opportunities, particularly in the realms of emerging artificial intelligence initiatives and expanded graduate program priorities.
Chatterjee’s dedication to excellence in teaching and research is evident in his accolades. In 2018, he received the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor award, the highest honor for instruction at UGA. He is a three-time recipient of the George P. Swift Award for Outstanding Teaching in Undergraduate Economics and has also been honored with the Hugh O. Nourse Outstanding MBA Teacher Award in 2018 and the Richard Reiff Award for Campus Internationalization in 2022.
A prolific researcher, Chatterjee has published extensively on various economic topics in refereed journals and edited volumes. He is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and is a fellow of the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program.
Chatterjee earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Washington, along with a master’s degree from the University of Delhi and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Calcutta.
The Terry College of Business has been recognized as the No. 1 value for money globally by the Financial Times for three consecutive years. It is currently ranked No. 9 among public business schools and No. 19 overall in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Chatterjee’s appointment marks a new chapter for the Terry College as it continues to build on its national prominence and commitment to excellence in business education, according to The American Bazaar.