Musicologist Is Named Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Rutgers-New Brunswick
Jason Geary has been the dean of Mason Gross School of the Arts since 2020
Jason Geary, a highly respected musicologist, veteran university administrator and dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts, has been named provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at Rutgers-New Brunswick, effective July 1.
He succeeds Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke, who will continue as special adviser to Rutgers-New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway. Ellen Bredehoft, associate dean for academic affairs, will serve as interim dean at Mason Gross as the university continues its nationwide search for the school’s next permanent dean.
With his skill in leading creative initiatives that fuel student success, build strong community ties and harness the power of interdisciplinary scholarship, Dr. Geary will help Rutgers-New Brunswick redefine what it means to be New Jersey’s anchor institution.
Francine Conway
Rutgers-New Brunswick Chancellor
Geary became dean of Mason Gross in 2020 and was later appointed senior vice provost for academic initiatives. Before joining the Rutgers faculty, he served as director of the School of Music at the University of Maryland. From 2004 to 2016, he taught musicology at the University of Michigan, where he also rose to become associate dean for graduate studies in the School of Music, Theater & Dance.
A passionate advocate for the transformative power of the arts in research universities and beyond, Geary has led initiatives that cross academic disciplines and connect students with communities.
At Maryland, he established a student live-in residency at a senior retirement community, an effort highlighted by The Today Show as “a program bridging the generations through a shared love of music and community.”
At Mason Gross, Geary launched several interdisciplinary programs, including ones that promote the benefit of the arts for health and wellness. Among these are Scarlet Arts Rx, in partnership with the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, and the Arts in Health Research Lab, in collaboration with the Rutgers School of Public Health and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
He also established the Mason Gross Office for Advising and Student Success, which focuses on wellness, career development and alumni engagement. His work strengthening community ties included partnerships with New Brunswick public schools and the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts.
As provost, Geary will lead Rutgers-New Brunswick’s academic program development, support academic units and oversee faculty recruitment, mentoring and leadership training.
“With his skill in leading creative initiatives that fuel student success, build strong community ties and harness the power of interdisciplinary scholarship, Dr. Geary will help Rutgers-New Brunswick redefine what it means to be New Jersey’s anchor institution,” Conway said. “While welcoming him, our community remains deeply grateful to our outgoing provost, Dr. Tomlinson-Clarke, whose strategic leadership helped set new standards for excellence.”
Geary’s appointment signals Rutgers-New Brunswick’s commitment to fostering collaboration across all disciplines, including the arts and humanities, and to creating a welcoming university community for everyone.
“I’m honored to lead ongoing efforts to reach new heights of research and student success in New Brunswick,” said Geary. “I’ve spent my career building connections to maximize impact on campus and in the community, and I’m eager to continue this work as provost in service to all faculty, staff and students.”
Geary holds the rank of Distinguished Professor and has published widely on 19th-century German music, with a focus on how perceptions of ancient Greece influenced German culture, identity and politics. His most recent book, Musical Meaning and Interpretation: Perspectives, Reflections, Critique (Oxford University Press, 2025), is a co-edited volume that explores the philosophical and cultural underpinnings of how humans ascribe meaning to music.
Geary received his doctoral degree in musicology from Yale University and a master’s degree in musicology from the University of Michigan. He earned his undergraduate degree in piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, having performed as soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra, the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra and at New York’s Alice Tully Hall.
The Rutgers-New Brunswick Office of the Provost was established in September 2023 and led by Tomlinson-Clarke, who championed initiatives aligned with the Academic Master Plan. During her tenure, she led programs to support, recognize and empower students and faculty. Her leadership of strategic initiatives included work as co-chair of the steering committee for the renewal of Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
In addition to advising the chancellor, Tomlinson-Clarke will return to her role as professor of educational psychology at the Graduate School of Education.
