O'Donnell to Retire as Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

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Tim O'Donnell

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Timothy J. O’Donnell, who has served as vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Arkansas since July 1, 2014, will retire Aug. 1.

He joined the U of A in 2013 as associate vice chancellor for budget and financial planning.

“Tim O’Donnell has done an excellent job leading the division of finance and administration,” said Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz. “The university is in great position thanks to Tim’s financial acumen, his approach to problem-solving and his leadership of the many departments within the finance and administration framework. Tim’s imprint has made a significant impact on a big division and we wish him well in his retirement.”    

An advisory committee led by Mark Power, vice chancellor for University Advancement, will convene in May to conduct an internal search for a new vice chancellor for finance and administration.

“This is a challenging fiscal environment for funding higher education with so many competing priorities, the mandate to do more with less, reallocation of resources and many, many other variables,” Steinmetz said. “This is an important position that impacts everything the university does, and given the place and time in the university’s history, I feel it’s best to look inward for someone with strong leadership abilities, institutional knowledge and experience.”

Units reporting to the vice chancellor for finance and administration include facilities management, human resources, information technology services, business affairs, financial affairs and the university police department. The vice chancellor is a member of the University Executive Committee reporting directly to Chancellor Steinmetz.

Upon his arrival in 2013, O’Donnell made an immediate positive impact to campus operations, working on the development of additional financial accountability measures in the budget and financial reporting areas as well as serving on the university’s Freedom of Information Task Force.

Under his leadership, the division has overseen the refunding of several debt issues on campus, resulting in significant financial savings; instituted new procedures generating efficiencies in several operational areas; implemented a new paycard option for payroll; overseen the use of body cameras by UAPD officers; continued progress toward campus facility upgrades and greatly improved campus wireless access; and improved stabilization of network, servers and other systems. 

“I have truly enjoyed my five years at the University of Arkansas, and feel that the finance and administration division was able to accomplish much during my tenure,” O’Donnell said. “With the implementation of a multi-year financial system scheduled to begin this summer, the time was perfect to retire and let a new financial leader take over. I will greatly miss working with the talented staff, faculty and leadership at the U of A.”

The members of the advisory committee are:

• Mark Power, chair, vice chancellor for university advancement
• Matt Waller, dean, Sam M. Walton College of Business
• Gary Gunderman, executive director of institutional research
• Debbie McLoud, associate vice chancellor for human resources
• Steve Gahagans, chief of police, UAPD
• Mike White, associate vice chancellor for finance

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.