Meet Provost Justice

On George Justice’s first day at The University of Tulsa, the Office of Admission arranged a tour of the campus. What Justice remembers best are the two students who guided him from place to place.

“They both exuded love for TU and expressed that they felt taken care of by their university,” Justice said. “One was taking courses in both science and history, and the other was a cheerleader and a STEM major. These students were living proof of what a successful liberal arts education can do, and it excited me for the position I had accepted.”

Justice joined TU as provost on July 1. He is one of the nation’s leading thinkers on issues facing universities and a longtime columnist for The Chronicle for Higher Education. Much of his work focuses on the opportunities for collaboration between faculty and administration and the importance of arts and humanities.

His responsibilities include coordinating all the academic programs and aspects of the institution to best represent the university’s president and the highest levels of administration. Justice examines the curriculum and research across the institution and ensures that it effectively promotes the future of higher education.

That future prioritizes the evolution of TU as it continues to dedicate itself to every student’s unique ability. “We treasure individuality here,” Justice said, “so we have programs that welcome the study of some of the most abstract theories in literature as well as programs that train students to become top-notch engineers, nurses or business leaders.”

He emphasized that one of the many ways TU is helping students understand themselves and the world is through its successful core curriculum. “Students take block courses from various fields, ensuring they have access to every element in the range of human knowledge and experience,” he said. This multidisciplinary approach situates TU among some of the nation’s top private institutions, combining the strengths of the best research universities and liberal arts colleges.

Having gone to a smaller liberal arts school for his undergraduate degree and an elite private university for his graduate degree, Justice feels completely at home at TU. The beautiful campus combined with engaged faculty who get to know their students on a personal level as well as a vibrant, growing, creative city center makes TU a unique spot in the higher education landscape.

“The University of Tulsa is poised like no other to help students create unique and profound opportunities based on their strongest passions,” he said.