Indian American scholar Ajay Vinzé, currently dean of Costello College of Business, one of the largest business schools in Virginia, has been named interim provost at George Mason University.
Vinzé’ appointment follows Provost Jim Antony’s planned move to the University of San Diego in March. He will serve alongside Antony from now through February to ensure a collaborative transition, according to a university release.
“Ajay, a distinguished scholar, is a respected voice among our deans,” said GMU President Gregory Washington. “I look forward to working closely with him during his time as interim provost.”
Since joining the university in 2022 as dean of the School of Business, Vinzé has overseen its rapid transformation to a named college, positioning the Costello College of Business as a nationally recognized leader in business education, accounting to the release.
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Under his leadership the college has established a signature interdisciplinary and modular approach to workforce-ready degree delivery; championed student experiences with programs like Costello on Wall Street, Patriot Pitch, and the Camp Costello initiative for incoming first-year students; and a maintained a commitment to cross-campus research and curricular collaborations.
“While my heart remains firmly with the Costello College of Business—and I fully intend to return once a permanent provost is named—this interim role offers an important opportunity to support the broader university community that has championed our college’s growth and success over the past three years,” Vinzé said.
Prior to joining Costello, Vinzé served as Dean of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at the University of Missouri. At Trulaske, he is credited with significantly enhancing the research profile of the college, offering innovative business education programs, and raising over $30 million in philanthropic giving.
Vinzé is a Fulbright Senior Specialist and a global citizen, having lived, worked or traveled through more than 70 countries over the past three decades.
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He completed his doctoral degree at the University of Arizona after receiving a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree from ShriRam College of Commerce (SRCC) at the University of Delhi.
Vinzé maintains an active research agenda, and his work ranges from artificial intelligence (AI) applications for business problem solving and collaborative computing to emergency preparedness and response and disruptive influences of ICT investments.
Vinzé’s publications have appeared in leading scholarly journals including Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly, Decision Sciences, Decision Support Systems, Health Affairs and various IEEE and ACM Transactions. In 2012, his research contributions were recognized at Arizona State University with a Faculty Excellence Award.
In May 2016, based on a model developed by Vinzé, MasterCard Foundation awarded Arizona State $21.9 million. This interdisciplinary six year grant focuses on promoting tertiary education in sub-Saharan Africa.
For his research contributions over the years, in 2023, Vinzé was voted into the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University Faculty Hall of Fame.