University of Minnesota Appoints Gregg Goldman as Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations
Gregg Goldman, a finance and operations leader with more than 30 years of experience working with some of America’s leading research universities with university medical centers, has been named the executive vice president for Finance and Operations at the University of Minnesota. Pending Board of Regents approval during the October 10 meeting of the Finance and Operations Committee, Goldman’s appointment begins November 11.
“To contribute in all of the ways Minnesotans expect the University of Minnesota to advance our state, we need incredibly talented, experienced and committed leaders, and Gregg Goldman fits that description perfectly,” said President Rebecca Cunningham. “Gregg knows what this role entails, because he’s done this work at universities similar to our own — public university systems with university medical centers that make a significant impact in their home states as well as around the globe. I’m looking forward to working closely with Gregg to help the University chart its next course and support our students, faculty and staff as they work to achieve their goals.”
According to Goldman: “I’m excited to join the University of Minnesota, President Cunningham, the leadership team, and be a part of our strong future ahead. I’ve spent much of my career in higher education, including land-grant institutions, and am passionate about how public research universities support healthy economies, educate our future workforce and vastly improve quality of life. I’ve seen it in action elsewhere and I will bring those experiences to help ensure Minnesotans continue to thrive in partnership with the U of M.”
The executive vice president role is critical to ensuring the U of M continues to operate effectively at the highest levels in all three components of its mission: education, research and community engagement. As EVP for Finance and Operations, he will serve as the University’s chief financial officer, chief operations officer and treasurer, providing systemwide leadership with oversight of the offices of University Budget, Investments and Banking, University Finance, Information Technology, and University Services. He will be responsible for the University’s $4.5 billion operating budget, overseeing a staff of over 2,700 employees, effectively managing its fiscal approach across five campuses and other sites, including the university medical center.
Goldman’s extensive leadership background in finance and operations includes a number of experiences comparable to what this role demands at the U of M — including at some of America’s leading research universities with university medical centers (including work related to hospital acquisitions and mergers).
Most recently, Goldman served as chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance for Hillspire, LLC, an integrated family office based in Menlo Park, Ca.
Goldman is well-prepared to tackle complicated and layered organizations after more than three decades leading finance and operations at large public research universities. After 20 years focused on leading finance and operations within units at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California-Irvine and the University of Southern California, Goldman was hired as senior vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer at the University of Arizona in 2015. After nearly four years as the senior leader overseeing U of A’s budget and operations, Goldman returned where he began his career in higher ed, UCLA, to serve as vice chancellor and chief financial officer.
In his roles at U of A and UCLA, Goldman helped build and lead the implementation of annual budgets of $2.2 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively. Like the University of Minnesota, UCLA is one of just a handful of public universities with more than $1 billion in annual research expenditures and is routinely recognized as a top public university in the U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” rankings.