Texas Border Business –
By Patrick Gonzales,
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has announced the hiring of Rick Anderson as executive vice president for Finance and Administration.
Anderson, who currently serves as vice president for Administration and treasurer at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, will replace Martin Baylor, who announced his retirement in April.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Rick’s caliber join our university,” said Founding President Guy Bailey. “He has extensive experience in several key areas that will play an important role in moving our university forward.”
Anderson, who has worked in higher education since 1988, will oversee UTRGV’s business and financial operations. His experience working with medical schools, including those integrated with general academia, public-private partnerships and athletics programs, will be an invaluable asset for UTRGV.
“This is one of the most unique and exciting positions in American public higher education today,” Anderson said. “The creation of a new university out of two legacy institutions and the establishment of a new medical school allows UTRGV to better serve the future educational, research and healthcare needs of the entire Rio Grande Valley. I am truly honored about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Prior to joining Washburn University in 2010, Anderson had been vice chancellor of administrative services at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Before that, he served as chief financial officer for the University of Kansas School of Medicine and chief financial officer for the medical school at the University of North Carolina.
A native of Illinois, Anderson earned both his bachelor and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University (OSU). At 6-foot-8, he also was a student-athlete on the OSU basketball team, where he earned conference all-academic honors as an accounting major.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Rick, and while we’re sorry to see him leave Washburn, we’re excited for his new challenge,” said Dr. Jerry Farley, president of Washburn University. “Rick has been instrumental in helping keep Washburn University on a strong financial footing.” TBB
