STATESBORO, Georgia (Diya TV) — Georgia Southern University has appointed Dr. Abhijit Bhattacharyya as the next dean of its Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. He will take up the position on July 1, 2026.
Bhattacharyya comes to Georgia Southern from Arkansas State University, where he served as the inaugural dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. During his tenure there, the college launched new academic programs in high-demand fields, strengthened industry partnerships, and advanced initiatives around student recruitment, retention, and career readiness.
His academic career began in India. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, before moving to the United States for his graduate studies. He completed both his master’s degree in applied mechanics and his PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering at Rutgers University. Prior to his deanship at Arkansas State, he held several leadership roles at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, including interim vice provost for research, dean of the graduate school, and associate dean of engineering and information technology.
His research has focused on smart materials and composite structures, with funding from agencies including NASA and DARPA. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and serves as an ABET program evaluator, the body responsible for accrediting engineering and computing programs across the United States.
Georgia Southern’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Avi Mukherjee, said Bhattacharyya’s experience and leadership align strongly with the university’s strategic priorities. The Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing currently offers 11 bachelor’s degree programs and six master’s degree programs, including accelerated combined bachelor’s-to-master’s tracks and, since 2024, PhD programs in both engineering and applied computing.
Bhattacharyya said of the appointment: “I have the honor and privilege to join Georgia Southern at an exciting time in its journey as it soars beyond its current very strong position in the state of Georgia. The energy on campus and within the college was palpable during my visit, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to build on that strong foundation.”
