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Published Monday, March 16, 2009 in Education

Sethna staying at West Georgia

By Education Staff

The Times-Herald

Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna is remaining as president of the University of West Georgia.

Sethna, 60, has withdrawn from the presidential search at the University at Albany in south Georgia. "I have informed them that while it has been a distinct honor to be considered for, and on the finalist list for, the position of president of the University at Albany, I feel I need to be at the University of West Georgia at this point in its history," Sethna said Monday.

Sethna, a native of Mumbai, is believed to be the first person of Indian origin to become president of a university in the United States. He has been president at UWG for close to 15 years and said he considers it his "honor and pleasure."

The University of West Georgia's main campus is in Carrollton. There also is a UWG satellite campus at Shenandoah in Coweta County.

"I wish to continue to be part of our academic and campus life growth, and continue to serve as we move closer to our destination as a Destination University. Frankly I would also like to enjoy the Coliseum, to help students move into the Greek Village, to be at the first game in the new stadium, to see the library expansion and the Murphy Office and the Nursing Building become reality," he said.

"Let us be clear that the next couple of years are going to have their share of challenges as well," Sethna said. "Perhaps strangely, I look forward to handling those also. I believe in our long-term future, and want to see us continue to move up in stature among the excellent universities of this state and nation."

Sethna earned a bachelor's degree with honors in electrical and computer engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai and a master's of business administration from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. His master of philosophy degree and PhD degree in marketing are both from Columbia University in New York.

Sethna has been a professor of business administration and president at UWG since June 1996. Prior to that time, he was associated with Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y. Before entering academia, Sethna worked for Proctor & Gamble and Lever Brothers.

West Georgia has grown and expanded its programs under Sethna's leadership. He served as interim senior vice chancellor from the University System of Georgia from 1999-2000

Sethna has written numerous scholarly papers. With Leonard Groeneveld, he was co-author of a 1984 book, "Research Methods in Marketing and Management."

Sethna is a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. He has been active in Scouting and in Chamber of Commerce projects.

He and his wife, Madhavi, have two grown children.