O'Donnell Appointed as Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

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Timothy J. O'Donnell

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Timothy J. O’Donnell, who joined the University of Arkansas in October 2013 as the first associate vice chancellor for budget and financial planning, will serve as the university’s interim vice chancellor for finance and administration beginning July 1.

He will replace Don Pederson, who announced earlier this month that he is retiring.  

A national search will be conducted to fill the vice chancellor position permanently, but the search committee has not yet been appointed.

“Tim O’Donnell has been doing an excellent job working with Don Pederson on budget and financial planning over the past nine months, and I am confident he will handle this interim position very well,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “He has shown a quick grasp of the financial and budget requirements of the University of Arkansas, and he is working from the very solid foundation that Don Pederson is leaving as his legacy.”

O’Donnell enjoyed a 22-year career with Arkansas Western Gas and its parent company, Southwestern Energy Co., where he rose to the position of vice president and served as treasurer before joining the U of A.

Since joining the University of Arkansas, O’Donnell has participated in the development of additional financial accountability measures in the budget and financial reporting areas.  He is also a member of the university’s Freedom of Information Act Task Force.

“Since joining the University of Arkansas this past fall, I’ve seen what a great institution this is, with so many loyal and dedicated faculty and staff serving the state of Arkansas,” O’Donnell said. “I’m honored to serve in this role in such a dynamic division.”

O’Donnell is noted for his strong accounting skills, including financial statement preparation and reporting, budgeting and financial analysis. He has been particularly commended for his strong background in various industries, which has provided a solid foundation to work in higher education.

As associate vice chancellor O’Donnell is a member of the university’s financial leadership team reporting directly to Vice Chancellor Pederson.

“Tim will do a great job for the division of finance and administration – and the U of A,” said Don Pederson, outgoing vice chancellor for finance and administration. “Tim brings passion and professionalism to everything he does and has already made a very positive impact to our campus operation.”

O’Donnell is a native of Davenport, Iowa, graduated with a bachelor of business administration in accounting from the University of Iowa, and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and holds membership in both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants.