A financial expert with extensive university system experience has accepted the position of vice president for Finance and Administration at Northern Arizona University.<\/p>\n
Jennus Burton<\/strong>, vice president for Arkansas State\u2019s System Operations since 2007 and former associate vice president at Arizona State, will begin his new position at NAU in June, pending approval by the Arizona Board of Regents.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a position we desperately need,\u201d said NAU President\u00a0John Haeger<\/strong>. \u201cThe university is undergoing a great deal of financial scrutiny, especially in light of Arizona\u2019s budget situation, and Jennus is one of the best in the business.\u201d<\/p>\n Burton was offered the position after a nationwide search that yielded a large number of highly qualified candidates, Haeger explained.<\/p>\n The new vice president will oversee the university\u2019s financial structure, including audit, investments, debt management, revenue possibilities and construction financing.\u00a0He also will identify and correct any financial inefficiencies. He will direct Human Resources, Financial Services\/Comptroller, Purchasing Services, NAU Police Department, Postal Services, Internal Audit, the Bookstore, internal space allocation, the Office of Economic Development and the Office of Sustainability.<\/p>\n \u201cI am aware of the financial challenges facing the state,\u201d Burton said. \u201cHowever, I have witnessed a team spirit with the current staff at NAU that I believe has the capability to manage through these challenges and make NAU a much stronger institution.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he looks forward to working with NAU administrators, staff and faculty as well as the Arizona Board of Regents and the administrators at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. \u201cMuch work needs to be done to enhance the sustainability of our institution, and I will work hard in meeting that challenge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The vice president for Finance and Administration position has been vacant since December 2008. Executive Vice President\u00a0MJ McMahon<\/strong>\u00a0has been overseeing the day-to-day operation of the area. \u201cMJ has done an excellent job seeing us through some very difficult times,\u201d Haeger said.<\/p>\n Burton joins NAU after a 13-year career at Arkansas State where he previously served as vice president for Finance and Administration at Arkansas State\u2019s Jonesboro campus for 10 years.<\/p>\n Burton has been responsible for planning and budgeting for the Arkansas State system, which includes the Jonesboro campus along with a branch campus in Paragould and three two-year campuses in Beebe, Mountain Home and Newport.<\/p>\n His responsibilities included debt management, rating agency relations, capital construction for the Jonesboro campus, facilities planning, internal audit, property management, land sales and acquisition, information technology services and employee benefits management.<\/p>\n As vice president for Finance and Administration at NAU, Burton will earn $225,000 per year.<\/p>\n Born in Glendale, Ariz., and raised in Phoenix, Burton worked for 22 years in various positions at Arizona State as assistant vice president for Business Affairs, director of Cash and Property Management and manager of Management Support Services for Physical Plant.<\/p>\n He has been married to his wife, Rosanne, for 37 years, and they have two sons who live in Chandler and Tucson.\u00a0\u201cI am grateful and honored to be joining President Haeger\u2019s staff at Northern Arizona University,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a homecoming for Rosanne and me, and we look forward to returning to our home state.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"