Bernard Mair, Ph.D.

Dr. Bernard Mair is the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. He also served as Acting Vice President for HBCU Affairs. At APLU, Dr. Mair provides leadership for the Office of Academic Affairs, which houses student affairs and digital learning, and the Office of Data and Policy Analysis. He works closely across the association to collaborate on the development and advancement of academic and student success-focused policies. He assists with the furthering of APLU’s Center for Public University Transformation, particularly its student success initiatives aimed at dramatically increasing the number of degrees granted and closing the achievement gap.

Dr. Mair serves as the principal organizer and coordinator of the activities of the Council on Academic Affairs. He also works closely with the association’s governmental affairs staff to advocate for federal policies that help strengthen the work of public universities and support the students they serve. Relatedly, Dr. Mair serves as an APLU liaison with other higher education associations and national organizations that work collaboratively on federal higher education policies.

Dr. Mair most recently served as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Howard University. Prior to that, he spent nearly two decades in administrative roles at the University of Florida, including his last six years there as Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs. His other leadership roles there included Associate Chair & Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Mathematics, Director of the Ronald E. McNair Program, and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. In addition, he has held professorships at The Pennsylvania State University, Texas Tech University, Dartmouth College, Emory University, and North Carolina State University (where he was Head of the Mathematics Department). Dr. Mair is the recipient of a University of Florida Teaching Award and the University of Florida Presidential Award for Exemplary Service as Associate Provost.

A renowned mathematician with an expertise in harmonic analysis and potential theory, Dr. Mair did joint work with other researchers in the medical field, bringing his mathematical analysis to bear on improving medical imaging. His work resulted in the publication of over 70 refereed articles on a wide range of areas and received support from AFOSR, NIH, and NSF.

Dr. Mair holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mathematics from the University of the West Indies and a Doctorate in Mathematics from McGill University, which accounts for his keen interest in international issues.