Brian D. Burnett, Ph.D.Brian D. Burnett, Ph.D., has been named UAB’s senior vice president for Finance and Administration following a national search. Burnett, who is interim associate vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Maryland, will begin work full time at UAB May 1, 2021, succeeding Allen Bolton, who will retire May 1. Bolton, a UAB alumnus, ably served the university for 25 years during several stints.
Burnett will lead units crucial to the education, research and patient-care missions and activities of the university, including Business and Auxiliary Services, Facilities, Financial Affairs, Human Resources, Faculty and Staff Benevolent Fund, UAB Police Department, and the University Compliance and Risk Management Office.
”I recognize that this is a difficult time for higher education and for our country, and I look forward to leading the team that supports the continued success of UAB students, faculty and the strategic goals of UAB.” |
“I am delighted and humbled to be joining a university and academic medical center as vibrant and progressive in all areas of its mission as UAB,” Burnett said. “I recognize that this is a difficult time for higher education and for our country, and I look forward to leading the team that supports the continued success of UAB students, faculty and the strategic goals of UAB.”
UAB President Ray Watts says Burnett’s achievements in similar roles position him to begin adding value immediately. “Brian Burnett has extensive experience in financial administration at leading public research universities with clinical enterprises, and we are confident he is the right person to lead UAB through the challenges we face during this pandemic and beyond,” Watts said.
Watts credits the search committee led by Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pam Benoit, Ph.D., for identifying Burnett as the next leader for Finance and Administration.
Burnett served in similar roles within the University of Colorado System (2003-2014), the University of Missouri System (2014-2016) and the University of Minnesota (2016-2020), where he was named a 2020 CFO of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
In Minneapolis, he improved the university’s interest earnings, helped redefine the joint clinical enterprise relationship to increase collaboration, academic support and revenues, led a committee that substantially improved the university’s defined contribution retirement platform and negotiated enhanced sponsorships for Gopher athletics.
During his time as vice president for finance and chief financial officer in Missouri, he created a finance academy for institutional leaders that was expanded systemwide, improved supplier diversity, developed and implemented a new internal audit model for the university and reduced deferred maintenance across the four University of Missouri campuses.
Burnett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a master’s degree in finance from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a doctorate in educational leadership, research and policy from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Burnett and his wife, Marilyn, have two adult children, son Derrick and daughter Tori. Burnett’s personal interests include cycling, spinning, alpine skiing, pickle ball, scuba diving and travel.
While appropriate members of The Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions of this proposed appointment, the financial terms remain subject to approval by The Board of Trustees.
