Ajay Nair

Ajay Nair is the senior vice president and dean of campus life at Emory University. He is an accomplished scholar and student affairs leader whose interests include immigration, race, and ethnicity. As Emory’s chief student advocate for nearly 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Nair shoulders a broad portfolio of responsibilities ranging from intercollegiate athletics and the Greek experience to student health services and residence life. He also provides leadership and strategic direction in cultivating an ethically engaged community consistent with Emory’s vision. Previously, Nair served as senior associate vice provost for student affairs at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has held positions at Columbia University, Penn State University, and the University of Virginia. During his tenure in higher education, he has served in a variety of capacities as faculty member, student affairs administrator, and academic administrator. Nair's research interests include quality assurance in educational systems, service learning and civic engagement, and second-generation Asian American identity. His co-edited book, Desi Rap: Hip-Hop in South Asian America, focuses on the complexities of second-generation South Asian American identity. His current book project explores the current state of multiculturalism in higher education.