Seldom do I celebrate when a Cabinet-level search comes to an unexpected end, but I am happy to let you know that Kevin Butler, the retired senior vice president for finance and business operations at Nevada State College, will remain our Vice President for Finance and Business/CFO for the foreseeable future. While I am deeply appreciative of the work of the search committee and all who took part in the process, my decision has less to do with the finalists for the position and more to do with how capably Kevin has served in an interim capacity for us, in addition to our institutional need to keep up momentum during a pivotal time in our history.
I have asked Kevin to stay on for a number of reasons, and he has graciously agreed. Since he came to Winthrop in March and was named to the interim role in April, Kevin has rebuilt the team within Finance and Business Affairs, impressing me with the talented folks he now has in divisional leadership and other positions. Importantly, he has taken a complex and cumbersome budget process and brought streamlined procedures which are currently rolling out. He has implemented a much-needed longer timeline for building the budget and stressed transparency and accountability. Kevin and his team also have put in place needed internal controls to ensure we are meeting the expectations of our auditors. Cline Brandt Kochenower & Company just recently reviewed our financial statement and gave us a favorable audit with no deficiencies.
I strongly believe stability in Finance and Business Affairs is critical as we move forward with Phase 1 of our strategic plan, Winthrop: United in Excellence. Kevin has brought that stability, as well as sound strategies based on his depth of higher education experiences. And, not to sound flip, but he likes it here. You have impressed him as phenomenal colleagues, and he shares your desire to see Winthrop become the regional comprehensive public university we know it can be.
I am grateful for Kevin’s leadership over the last seven months, and I hope you will congratulate him when you see him around campus. I am removing the “interim” from his title and look forward to continuing our important work for Winthrop.
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
