As part of a multi-year management succession plan of outstanding, long-term financial leaders at Emory, Michael John Andrechak will join Emory as the university’s first chief university budget officer (CUBO) and vice provost on July 14.

Andrechak brings more than 30 years of experience from the University of Illinois, where he served most recently as associate chancellor and vice provost for budgets and resource planning. In that capacity, he played a significant role in proactively addressing the financial challenges of the university and in planning major facility initiatives. He also partnered with the academic deans to align the financial resources of each college or school with academic priorities.

A comprehensive process identified a dynamic and experienced group of candidates for the CUBO from a national pool, and a search advisory committee at Emory—co-chaired by Rich Mendola and Nancy Gourash Bliwise—helped narrow the field of candidates. Finalists met with leaders and key constituents throughout Emory this spring.

“We have an opportunity to transition the university towards a more comprehensive and meaningful budget process,” says Provost Claire E. Sterk. “We are delighted to have someone of Michael’s caliber and experience help us develop that process. He will provide outstanding leadership, and I’m confident that we will continue to thrive under his guidance of the university’s budget and associated planning.”

In his new position at Emory—which reports to the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs—Andrechak will provide institution-wide guidance for budget and financial planning, along with serving as a consultant for the executive vice presidents, deans, and other senior administrative leaders. He will work in close concert with the future vice president of finance/chief financial officer (CFO), who will report to the executive vice president of business and administration, to help further advance Emory’s financial management structure over the next several years.

At Illinois, Andrechak was successful in engaging more corners of the academic enterprise to participate in the budget arena, a valuable skill that he will bring to Emory’s campus. “Budgets often reflect collective problem solving,” Andrechak says. “I believe that solutions come not from a few at the center but from the collective intelligence of the organization. Emory is facing the changes in higher education by bringing many perspectives to these challenges. It is the kind of place where I want to be.”