Dear Colleagues,
As we near the close of another productive fiscal year, I am writing to let you know about some transitions and organizational changes within the Division of Finance and Administration designed to help us maintain sustainable business practices while promoting excellence in service.
Brian Powell, Associate Vice Chancellor for People and Strategy, recently accepted a position as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Chapman University. Over the past three and a half years, his leadership has provided a foundation for modernized approaches to UC Merced’s Human Resources systems and core functions. Brian’s last day will be June 15, and we wish him luck in the future.
As you know, our financial and administrative functions were recently consolidated into the new Division of Finance and Administration to enable the campus to better streamline processes. This consolidated division represents a much larger and more complex organization with multiple, diverse lines of business services. In review of the division’s portfolio, we have an opportunity for additional organizational improvements.
As a result, here are some changes the campus can expect this summer:
- Jenna Allen , currently Director of Institutional Research and Decision Support and interim Chief of Staff, will serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. In her expanded role, Jenna will help lead strategic planning in our division and centralized management of our Executive Support Team.
- Romi Kaur, will assume the title of Executive Director of Financial Planning and Analysis . Under Romi, two new directors have been hired including Maria Tinoco as the Director of Academic Budget and Policy and Viola Kinsman as the Director of Administrative Budget and Policy.
- Michael Riley, campus controller and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Business and Financial Services, will assume responsibility for the Administrative Coordination Team (ACT) . He has also graciously agreed to temporarily oversee Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) and the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) until the conclusion of the active recruitment of a new Associate Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary Enterprises and Fiscal Innovation.
In addition, our human resource functions will be reorganized under two directors. Fabiola Elizalde, as Director of Talent Management, will oversee Talent Acquisition; Talent Development; Employee and Labor Relations; and HR Consultative Services. David Ellington, as Director of Total Rewards, will oversee Compensation and Classification; Benefits, Leaves, and Accommodations; and HRPC Payroll Services.
To ensure the campus can maximize the use of data, analytics and best management practices for its decision-making processes, I have created a Center of Institutional Effectiveness (CIE) led by Andrew Boyd , as its Executive Director.
This center consolidates various analytic functions into a single unit divided into three areas of specialization. As structured, Gary Lowe will manage Institutional Research and Reporting; Jessica Duffy will manage Business Analysis and Intelligence; and Emily Bustos will manage Systems Analysis and Support including the Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) unit.
The Division of Finance and Administration remains committed to organizational excellence and efficiency to the campus community. A revised organization chart reflecting these changes is below. Please join me in congratulating the entire team in their new roles.
Sincerely,
Veronica Mendez
Vice Chancellor
Chief Financial Officer
