James Antony Named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

University of San Diego President James T. Harris III, DEd announced that James (Jim) Antony, PhD, will become USD’s next Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, effective March 1, 2026. 

Antony comes to USD following his tenure as Executive Vice President and Provost at George Mason University, the largest and most diverse research university in Virginia. 

“Dr. Antony’s extensive experience and deep commitment to student access and success align with USD’s mission, vision and values,” said Harris. “Following the search process, members of the university community were in agreement that Dr. Antony was the ideal candidate to take on the role of provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. We’re excited to welcome him back to San Diego.” 

Prior to his role at George Mason, Antony served as the dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs at UC San Diego where he focused on enhancing graduate programs and supporting postdoctoral scholars. During his tenure, he initiated grant-funded programs to improve mentoring, led the transformation of graduate and professional student financial support, and helped enhance professional development for students. Alongside his administrative duties, he was a professor of Education Studies with a secondary appointment in the Rady School of Management.

Antony has held notable academic leadership roles at Harvard, Yale and the University of Washington. From 2015 to 2019, he served as the faculty director of the Higher Education Program in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University and co-directed Harvard’s Management Development Program. As an associate provost at Yale University from 2012 to 2015, he focused on faculty development and the promotion of undergraduate student leadership.

His 17-year tenure at the University of Washington was marked by numerous leadership roles, including associate vice provost for graduate education, associate dean for the College of Education and director of two academic programs; he also facilitated the development of new graduate degree and certificate programs across the university, and created and led the Center for Leadership in Athletics, and its associated professional degree programs. 

Antony’s publications focus on the development of higher education faculty, the socialization and leadership development of future college leaders and the implementation of data-driven decision making in academic environments. He has taught courses on leadership theory, student affairs administration, leadership ethics, sociology of higher education, the history of higher education, data-based decision making and college athletics and athletic leadership.

"I am so excited to begin my new role at USD,” Antony said. “I have long admired USD for its dual commitment to liberal arts undergraduate education and world-class graduate and professional programs. I admire its mission-driven approach to serving students and the broader community, and am inspired by the role it plays as an anchor institution across the greater border region. I look forward to working with, learning from, and serving my new USD colleagues and USD's incredible students."

Antony received his BA in psychology, and his MA and PhD in higher education and organizational change, all from UCLA.

— USD News Center