Becky Culyba to join Emory University Office of the Provost
July 23, 2026 Sylvie Wages
Becky Culyba joins Emory from Carnegie Mellon University, where she served as vice provost for strategic initiatives and chief of staff to the provost. She also previously worked for Emory’s School of Medicine. Photo by CMU.
Becky Culyba has been appointed Emory University’s vice provost for academic strategy and engagement and chief of staff to the provost. She begins the role Sept. 8.
This new role is essential to advancing Emory’s academic mission by strengthening cross‑campus partnerships, aligning academic priorities and guiding strategic initiatives that elevate long-term impact.
Culyba brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning higher education administration, academic research and program development. Her background in public health and research administration, grounded in health equity and sociology, strengthens data-informed decision making and program evaluation across Emory’s academic portfolio.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Smith College, a master’s degree in communication, culture and society from the University of London’s Goldsmiths College, and a PhD in sociology from Northwestern University.
“Throughout the search, I was looking for someone who could think strategically about the future of the university while translating vision into execution,” says Badia Ahad, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Becky stood out because of her breadth of experience, her thoughtful approach to leadership, and her ability to bring people together around shared goals. She asks insightful questions, builds trust across diverse groups, and moves complex initiatives forward with clarity, kindness and sound judgment. Those qualities make her an exceptional partner as we continue building an academic enterprise defined by excellence, collaboration and impact.”
Throughout her career, Culyba has excelled in fostering collaboration and alignment among diverse stakeholder groups. She comes most recently from Carnegie Mellon University, where she served as vice provost for strategic initiatives and chief of staff to the provost. Previously, she had worked for Emory University’s School of Medicine, where she was senior faculty. Beyond her professional roles, she has been actively involved in community and civic initiatives, strengthening partnerships that bridge academic and public sectors. Her ability to build strong partnerships and facilitate multi-level engagement will be invaluable as Emory continues to grow and evolve.
“I am delighted to welcome Becky back to Emory and look forward to the insight, experience and collaborative leadership she will bring to our community,” says Ahad. “I know she will be a tremendous partner to our schools, academic units and colleagues across the university as we continue advancing Emory's academic mission.”
