MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin System President Kevin P. Reilly today announced the appointment of Thomas K. Anderes as the System’s Senior Vice President for Administration and Fiscal Affairs.
With more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education, Anderes is currently the senior vice president for administration and finance at Texas Tech University—a post he has held since 2004. He was the senior vice chancellor for finance and administration at the Oregon University System from 2000 to 2004. He previously held various leadership and financial management positions at the Nevada System of Higher Education and the Connecticut Department of Higher Education.
Anderes will serve as chief operating officer for the UW System, which includes two doctoral universities, 11 comprehensive campuses, 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges, and UW-Extension programs in all 72 Wisconsin counties. Enrollment across the UW System reached a historic peak last year, with more than 170,000 students.
“Tom has an outstanding record of accomplishment as an administrative leader, financial manager and strategic planner,” said Reilly. “His experience in multi-campus university systems will be especially valuable. He has the right skills and experience to help us move ahead effectively with the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin, helping to build the state’s higher-education capacity to accommodate the demands of a 21st Century knowledge economy.”
Anderes is currently responsible for Texas Tech’s $600 million annual operating budget, a $250 million capital budget, and all related finance functions at the 29,000-student campus. In Oregon, Anderes oversaw a $2 billion annual operating budget for a system of seven universities with 76,000 enrolled students.
“As a native of Wisconsin, the opportunity to return to my home state is extremely attractive, particularly with a system of higher education as highly regarded as the UW,” said Anderes, who was raised in Racine, Wis. “In addition to my professional experiences, I bring a high level of enthusiasm for student access, a commitment to program and facility quality, and a focus on cost-effectiveness. I look forward to being part of the team that moves the Growth Agenda forward.”
In his new role, Anderes will work closely with Reilly on all matters relating to the UW System’s commitment to operational efficiency and accountability. He will provide leadership for multiple UW System offices, including: Administration and Fiscal Affairs, Finance, Budget and Planning, Capital Planning, Human Resources and Workforce Diversity, and the UW System’s General Counsel. He will collaborate with chief business officers at each UW System institution to develop fiscal goals, budget strategies, and implementation plans.
“A major focus of the UW System is to ensure a fiscal accountability to state taxpayers, students, parents and other constituents,” said Anderes. “I look forward to working closely with the president, the 14 UW System chancellors, the State Legislature and the Governor’s office. My goal is to enhance accountability in how the university uses its precious financial resources, and preserve transparency in all our decision making.”
Anderes will help the UW System fulfill all of its state reporting requirements and financial goals, maintaining effective working relationships with the Wisconsin Department of Administration, the State Legislature, the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau and other offices. He will also serve as staff liaison to the Board of Regents’ Business, Finance and Audit Committee.
“It’s clear that Tom has the ability to analyze and understand all of the complex financial issues that affect our public university,” said Regent Brent Smith, chair of the Business, Finance and Audit Committee. “It’s equally clear that Tom also has the unique capability to synthesize that vast data and communicate effectively with non-financial audiences. That is very important to our Board, and to other internal and external constituents, including our state legislators.”
Anderes earned his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Connecticut. He completed both his master’s degree in public administration and his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Arizona.
Anderes succeeds UW System Executive Senior Vice President Don Mash, who will retire in June. With more than four decades of higher-education experience, Mash was appointed to the UW System post in 2005, after serving as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for seven years.