Anne Shaffer, senior associate dean of the University of Georgia Graduate School and professor of psychology, has been appointed interim dean of the Graduate School, effective Aug. 1.

Shaffer succeeds Ron Walcott, who was recently named UGA’s interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Shaffer has served in the Graduate School since 2021, first as associate dean and as senior associate dean since 2026. In those roles, she has helped lead initiatives supporting more than 9,000 graduate students and more than 200 graduate programs across the university.

“Dr. Shaffer has been an invaluable partner in the Graduate School, and I’ve seen firsthand her commitment to our graduate students and faculty,” Walcott said. “Her dedication to graduate education is evident in everything she does, and I’m confident the Graduate School will continue to thrive under her leadership.”

As senior associate dean, Shaffer has played a key role in advancing graduate student success, professional development and institutional effectiveness. She led the creation of GradFIRST, a required onboarding seminar for incoming graduate students; developed the UGA Graduate Mentoring Certificate program for faculty mentors; established the GradUP graduate competency model; and helped strengthen Graduate School policies, communications and student support services. She also has contributed to strategic initiatives focused on graduate student recruitment, retention, well-being and academic success.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this interim role, and I look forward to continuing the work of the Graduate School to serve our graduate students, as well as the faculty and staff who support them,” Shaffer said.

A member of the UGA faculty since 2008, Shaffer is a licensed clinical psychologist. Before joining the Graduate School’s leadership team, she served as graduate coordinator in the department of psychology and held several other academic leadership roles, including administrative fellow in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office.

Shaffer’s research focuses on developmental psychopathology, parenting and family relationships. She has secured external funding from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations, published extensively in leading scholarly journals and received numerous honors recognizing her excellence in teaching, mentoring and leadership.

She has participated in several leadership development programs, including the University System of Georgia Executive Leadership Institute, the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program and the UGA Women’s Leadership Fellowship.

The Graduate School serves as the central administrative and academic unit for graduate education at the University of Georgia and supports master’s, doctoral and specialist degree programs across the institution.