Ann Bordelon, executive vice chancellor for finance and administration, has announced structural changes that will soon be implemented across the Division of Finance and Administration.

Michael White and Scott Turley Retiring

Michael White, who has served the campus for more than 25 years in various roles within finance and for the last six years as associate vice chancellor for financial affairs, will retire Dec. 31, 2024.

Scott Turley also intends to retire at the end of 2024. Turley has been with the university for over 30 years, serving as associate vice chancellor for facilities for the past three years.

"Mike has led his organization admirably with a level of financial stewardship that is beyond reproach. When Mike shared with me last October his intent to retire at the end of 2024, it gave me a real opportunity to think about the structure of the division in a new way," Bordelon said. "Scott has valiantly led the facilities team through a challenging environment of complex construction projects coupled with historic inflation. His ability to bring a level of calmness to the volatile environment his team faced every day was inspiring."

The university will launch a national search for Turley's role this summer and will celebrate the legacies of White and Turley toward the end of 2024.

The pending retirements have allowed Bordelon the opportunity to reimagine the structure of her large organization with an objective to drive more innovation, efficiency and effectiveness in the service delivered to campus. The below structure will go into effect July 1, 2024.

Cale Fessler to Become Financial Affairs Lead

Cale Fessler will move into an expanded role as associate vice chancellor–financial affairs. He will assume the responsibilities of the role held by White. He will also retain his current duties in campus budgeting, business solutions and support services, and procurement, along with travel and eProcurement services.

"By aligning these functions within the same unit, we will improve the insights and analytics around our financial performance, proactively identify anomalies and improve communication and problem resolution," Bordelon said.

White will continue an active transitional role within Financial Affairs through the end of the year. 

Susan Slinkard to Become Assistant Vice Chancellor-Treasurer

Within Financial Affairs, Susan Slinkard is being promoted to assistant vice chancellor–treasurer. She will retain her current responsibilities and will also oversee additional areas such as accounts payable, accounts receivable (including student accounts), as well as payroll.

"Susan is a highly innovative leader. Over the past few years, she has driven countless initiatives in her organization to streamline and rethink how we manage the university's cash and investments. She will bring that same innovative leadership to these other areas," Bordelon said.

Clayton Hamilton Assuming New Campus Services Position

With Fessler moving into the financial affairs role, Clayton Hamilton will assume the new role of senior associate vice chancellor–campus services. This organization will house all campus community infrastructure teams, and it will be responsible for strategic campus partnerships as well as real estate and space strategy. In an effort to closely align campus infrastructure teams, Hamilton will oversee facilities management, parking and transit, and university police.

"I'm excited to have Clayton join my team," Bordelon said. "He brings tremendous experience and leadership capability to my organization. As deputy athletic director–internal engagement/CFO, Clayton has been a visionary partner and a high-demand customer who has expertly managed many functions within athletics in collaboration with our team."

Hamilton will be responsible for a team of nine. His direct reports will include:

• Scott Turley, associate vice chancellor for facilities
• Lynne Bell, assistant vice chancellor for business services
• Stephen Gahagans, chief of university police
• Gary Smith, director of transit & parking
• A new position focused on real estate and campus space planning

Auxiliary finance leaders in the divisions of Athletics and Student Affairs will indirectly report to Hamilton.

"For the past 14 years, Clayton has served in a senior leadership role with Razorback Athletics helping us remain as one of only a handful of financially self-sustaining athletics programs in the country," said Hunter Yurachek, vice chancellor and director of athletics. "As a native of our state and a University of Arkansas graduate, he has worked with our team to help position our athletics program, coaches and student-athletes for success. We are appreciative of Clayton's efforts and look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role on campus."

New Real Estate and Campus Space Planning Position

Hamilton's team will include a new role focused on strategically managing the university's real estate portfolio and campus space allocation. 

"As the university grows in both population and square footage, we must ensure that we are adequately prepared to continue meeting the needs of our campus community," Bordelon said. "I'm really looking forward to Clayton's leadership as we develop a coordinated vision for planning and building a campus infrastructure that best suits our university's future needs."

Lynne Bell to Lead Strategic Campus Partnerships

Strategic campus partnerships will be led by Lynne Bell as part of Hamilton's team. She will continue to oversee the university's significant campus contract relationships with Chartwells, Barnes & Noble, Ricoh, Coca-Cola, etc., while identifying new partnership opportunities. She will also maintain oversight of the campus card office.

Data Strategy Updates

Jannette Akridge will be named senior director–data transformation and will report to Bordelon. Akridge, who has been serving in a similar capacity on a part-time basis, will be appointed full time. She will work closely with Don Ussery in UITS, Brandon Bayles in the Provost's Office and other data leaders to shepherd the university's data strategy efforts across different functions. Additionally, the Department of User Solutions led by James Morrison will report to Akridge. Paul Bixby will continue to serve in his current role, but will move from Financial Affairs to User Solutions, reporting to Morrison.

Campus Financial Leadership Realignment

All finance leaders across campus will now have a formalized indirect reporting relationship to the Division of Finance and Administration. Colleen Briney, vice provost for planning, will report indirectly to Bordelon while maintaining a direct line to Provost Terry Martin. All academic and research business officers will have an indirect reporting line to Briney while maintaining a direct reporting line to their respective dean or vice chancellor. 

"I'm excited about these changes and look forward to working with this team as we support the important work of educating our students and advancing research," Bordelon said. "Overall, we have an incredible opportunity to serve our university and its land-grant mission at a new level of excellence."