April 14, 2009
Purdue names Diaz executive VP for business and finance, treasurer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
"Al Diaz is an experienced administrator. He is skillful at getting people to work together toward common goals," Córdova said. "His deep experience in leading complex organizations, in which he has interacted with a diversity of stakeholders including elected officials and community members, is exactly what Purdue needs as we move forward to meet our strategic goals. Among these are to expand human resources, rehabilitate aging facilities, plan new buildings for increased student and research success, and find new opportunities to generate revenue in a tough economic climate."
Diaz, currently vice chancellor for administration at the University of California at Riverside, will be responsible for a $1.9 billion budget and will oversee all financial affairs; business services; human resource services; physical facilities; auxiliary enterprises, including the residence hall system; internal audit functions; and will supervise the information technology enterprise jointly with the provost.
His experience includes directing similar operations at the Riverside campus as well as extensive experience at NASA. At NASA he managed a $3 billion budget as director of the Goddard Space Flight Center and then subsequently a $5.5 billion budget as associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate.
"Purdue is well-known and respected in the business world as an efficient manager of our funds and sophisticated in financial markets," said J. Timothy McGinley, chairman of the Purdue board of trustees. "Al Diaz will build on those strengths and find new ways to put them to work."
The position also will oversee financial relationships with affiliated corporations and provide liaison with legal counsel. The appointment is subject to ratification by the board of trustees.
Diaz holds a bachelor's degree in physics from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and a master's degree in physics from Old Dominion University, as well as a master's degree in management from MIT.
Diaz succeeds Morgan R. Olsen, who became executive vice president, treasurer and CFO at Arizona State University last fall. Purdue vice president for business services and assistant treasurer James Almond served as interim vice president for business, finance and treasurer during the national search.
"I am grateful to Jim Almond for doing a superb job as interim executive vice president and treasurer. He has helped us think through some very difficult budget decisions and provided excellent counsel," Córdova said. "I would also like to thank the search committee for doing a thorough, diligent job interviewing talented prospects from all over the country."
Diane K. Denis, Krannert School of Management senior associate dean and Duke Realty Chair in Finance, chaired the national search committee. The committee was assisted by the search firm Baker and Associates.
"The university will be in good hands under Al Diaz," Denis said. "There was a lot of careful deliberation by the committee, and we were happy with the process."
Writer: Chris Sigurdson, 765-494-2076, sig@purdue.edu
Sources: France A. Córdova, 765-494-9708
J. Timothy McGinley, 317-580-2535
Alphonso Diaz, 951-827-8221, al.diaz@ucr.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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