The Texas Tech University System announced today the appointment of Gary Barnes as vice chancellor and chief financial officer (CFO). Barnes begins his duties Dec. 1.
Barnes will coordinate an annual operating budget of more than $2 billion and will be responsible for the overall financial strength and stability of the Texas Tech University System. He will also manage multiple offices and services at the Texas Tech University System, including Treasury & Cash Management, Risk Management, Information Technology, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Office of Investments.
“Gary brings a wealth of leadership and finance experience to the system,” Chancellor Robert L. Duncan said. “The Texas Tech University System is at a pivotal time in its history with growing enrollment, unprecedented philanthropic support and new academic programs. We are excited for Gary to join the team to ensure our continued success and financial strength.”
Barnes succeeds Jim Brunjes, who announced his retirement in March after serving the Texas Tech University System as CFO for 17 years.
Barnes has nearly 40 years of experience in higher education financial services, leadership and management. Currently, he is the associate vice president for finance and university controller at Texas A&M University where he leads and directs financial operations for the university, which had a $1.7 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2016. Barnes is responsible for identifying, analyzing and leading key accounting and financial initiatives.
“I am honored to be a part of the Texas Tech University System,” Barnes said. “I am excited to be a part of Chancellor Duncan’s exemplary leadership team and look forward to working with the system staff, as well as the outstanding leadership teams at our four universities.”
Before his tenure at Texas A&M, Barnes served as the vice president for business and finance and CFO at West Texas A&M University with oversight of a $136 million budget and 276 employees. At West Texas A&M, Barnes also served as associate vice president and controller, director of accounting and assistant director of business services before being named CFO.
Barnes earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University. He and his wife Cindy are the parents of two adult sons, Ryan and John, and a daughter-in-law, Kristen.
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university systems in the state of Texas and nation, consisting of four universities—Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech University System is a $2 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 20,000 employees, more than 50,000 students, nearly 325,000 alumni and a more than $1 billion endowment.
In its short history, the Texas Tech University System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating on more than a dozen campuses statewide and internationally. Under the dynamic leadership of Chancellor Robert L. Duncan, the Texas Tech University System has set forth a bold vision of excellence, collaboration and innovation and continues to prove that from here, it’s possible.
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(News release from Texas Tech)