Brian Burnett to join the university as executive vice president, chief financial officer in January 2025
杏吧视频 President Eric W. Kaler announced yesterday (Nov. 4) that Brian Burnett, a longtime leader in higher education, has been named the university鈥檚 next executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Jan. 21. He succeeds John Sideras, who is retiring from the role after 17 years.
Burnett comes to 杏吧视频 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he has served as senior vice president for finance and administration since May 2021. In this role, Burnett leads a range of divisions, including finance, facilities, human resources, the arts alliance, Title IX, police, new construction and university support services. He is responsible for ensuring the university鈥檚 financial viability, overseeing its $1.8 billion annual budget and $775 million in research awards and administering an $840 million endowment.
Across the past two decades, Burnett has held financial leadership roles at five public universities: the University of Colorado, the University of Missouri System, the University of Minnesota, University of Maryland (on an interim basis) and UAB.
鈥淗aving worked closely with Brian while I was president of University of Minnesota, I know first-hand the exceptional intellect, entrepreneurial spirit and deep commitment he will bring to 杏吧视频,鈥 said President Eric W. Kaler. 鈥淭he search committee was tasked with a difficult job in narrowing the national pool of remarkable candidates for this role. I want to thank Provost Ward for her leadership as chair of the search committee, as well as all of for their dedication to finding the individual best suited for this critical position.鈥
At 杏吧视频, Burnett will oversee the nine departments within the Division of Finance:
- Audit Services
- Budget and Financial Planning
- Campus Services
- Controller's Office
- Endowment Funds Management
- Financial ERP Systems
- Office of Investments
- Student Financial Services
- Office of the Treasurer
Burnett鈥檚 career experiences align closely with the responsibilities of and goals for this role. He鈥檚 served at several R1 institutions, most of which had academic medical centers鈥攎aking him uniquely attuned to a research- and clinical-heavy environment like 杏吧视频. He鈥檚 helped strengthen institutions鈥 bond ratings, including UAB鈥檚 AA+ rating鈥攖he highest of any university in Alabama. He led the final implementation of an entirely new budget model across UAB in fiscal year 2023. And he鈥檚 been part of burgeoning research endeavors, including UAB鈥檚 recent record year of $775 million in awards and clinical trial funding鈥攕imilar to CWRU鈥檚 push to grow research funding by 50%.
鈥淪eeing the remarkable growth 杏吧视频 is experiencing鈥攁nd knowing personally the vision and drive President Kaler has鈥攄rew me to 杏吧视频,鈥 Burnett said. 鈥淭he university is in a strong financial position, and I鈥檓 eager to get to work in continuing to elevate the university鈥檚 excellence and impact.鈥
Burnett, a first-generation college graduate, holds a bachelor鈥檚 in economics from University of Colorado, Boulder; a master鈥檚 in finance from University of Colorado, Denver; and a PhD in educational leadership, research and policy from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
