Beheruz Nariman Sethna was born in India in 1948. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1971. In 1973, he received his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management before attending Columbia University where he received his Master in Philosophy in 1975 and his Ph.D. in Business in 1976. Dr. Sethna also participated in post-doctoral programs at Indiana University (1986) and Harvard (1991).

From 1976 to 1989, Sethna worked as a tenured professor at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York where he was also the Chairman of the Department of Marketing and Management Information Systems, as well as the Director of Graduate Programs at one time. In 1989, Sethna accepted a position at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas where he remained until 1994. While at Lamar, he acted as the Dean of the College of Business before being named the Interim Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. In addition to his tenured professorships, Sethna also held senior levels at multiple multinational companies including Lever Brothers and Richardson-Vicks, now Procter and Gamble, and Clarion-McCann Advertising.

In 1994, Sethna was appointed the sixth President of West Georgia College, making him the first person from any ethnic minority to become President of a predominantly white or racially-integrated University or College in Georgia as well as the first person of Indian origin to become President of an American university. During his term as President, Sethna played an integral role in converting the college into the University of West Georgia, as well as elevating it to a level of national recognition.

At the University of West Georgia, Sethna's main focus was on enhancing UWG's stature and reputation. He helped create Georgia's first Honors College and the Advanced Academy for exceptionally-gifted students to complete their last two years of high school and first two years of college simultaneously. Sethna was also responsible for winning the approval for the university's first four doctoral programs. Overall, during his tenure as president, enrollment increased approximately fifty percent.

In addition to his work at the University of West Georgia, Sethna also served twice (1999-2000 and 2006-2007) as the Interim Executive/Senior Vice Chancellor for the University System of Georgia. He also won numerous awards and honors throughout his career, some of which include being named among the 100 Most Influential Georgians six times, being named Carroll County Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1999, and being named Distinguished Alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology in 2000.

In 2012, Sethna announced his retirement as President which took effect on June 30, 2013. He currently continues at the University of West Georgia as professor of business administration.

Dr. Sethna is married to Dr. Madhavi Sethna, a UWG faculty member. They have two children: Anita Sethna, MD, a Facial Plastics and Board-certified ENT surgeon and Shaun Sethna, JD.