Ashwani Monga Named New UMSL Chancellor, Starting January 2027
Date Posted: November 3, 2026
Posted In: Organizations, People,
From UMSL Daily: University of Missouri President Mun Choi has named Ashwani Monga as chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, effective Jan. 1. Monga currently serves as the executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University System of Georgia.
Deep Experience in Higher Ed
“Dr. Monga is a dynamic leader with deep experience in higher education at some of the nation’s top public universities,” Choi said. “He understands the importance of increasing enrollment, graduation rates, corporate partnerships and philanthropy. His record of driving student success, strategic innovations and external partnerships, as well as his background in marketing, make Dr. Monga the right person to lead the UMSL community.”
Led Georgia University System Strategy
For USG’s 382,000 students and 20,000 faculty at 25 universities, Monga has served as the top academic liaison to the chancellor and the Board of Regents. He has led USG’s academic strategy across universities, overseeing all student and faculty matters including approval of academic programs, accreditation, athletic compliance, international education, student success, faculty affairs, academic innovation, enrollment management, student affairs, library services and academic collaborations.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Monga to UMSL and the UM System,” said Todd Graves, chair of the UM Board of Curators. “With an established reputation for leading successful strategic initiatives across higher education, his impactful leadership and ability to balance academic excellence with strong financial stewardship will guide the university into its next era of excellence.”
“Impressive Record”
“With the appointment of Dr. Monga, UMSL takes a remarkable step to advance its national and global reputation,” said Bob Blitz, vice chair of the Board of Curators. “He brings an impressive record of achievement, from engaging stakeholders and securing donor support to increasing retention rates and advancing transformative academic initiatives, distinguishing himself as an exceptional leader in higher education.”
“Dr. Monga’s ability to identify new opportunities for growth will benefit UMSL, St. Louis and Missouri for years to come,” said Curator Lyda Krewson. “He will advance important initiatives that position the university for continued success, and I’m confident he will strengthen UMSL’s impact across the St. Louis region and beyond.”