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  Laura Hubbard

By CHARLOTTE HSU

Published: January 9, 2012

Laura E. Hubbard, associate vice president for budget and finance at the University of Oregon, has been named vice president for finance and administration at UB.

The appointment, which followed a national search, was announced today by President Satish K. Tripathi and takes effect Feb. 27.

Hubbard brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education administration to her new position at UB. She has a track record of success in areas from budget and strategic planning to organizational restructuring.

Prior to joining the University of Oregon in 2005, she served as director of capital planning and budget, assistant vice president for administration, and interim vice president for finance and administration at the University of Idaho. From 1990-99, she served as finance and administrative officer, as well as director of facilities administrative services, at Washington State University.

“Laura Hubbard is a tremendously valuable addition to our strong leadership team,” said Tripathi. “Not only is she among the very best administrators in the finance area, but she also is thoroughly grounded in the higher education realm and is highly attuned to the particular priorities and challenges facing a research-intensive university like UB.

“She brings remarkable acumen and expertise to this important role, as well as skillful leadership, a thoughtful ear and a collaborative approach—all qualities that promise to energize and advance our university in its continued pursuit of excellence.”

As vice president for finance and administration at UB—a newly formulated position at the university—Hubbard’s responsibilities will include oversight of strategic financial planning and analysis of resource use and development. She will oversee UB business services, internal audit, human resources, employee relations and facilities units.

She will provide leadership for the institution’s ongoing efforts to pursue innovative business solutions and develop operating strategies that enhance revenues and efficiency, and lead to more cost-effective administrative practices.

“The UB position is a natural extension of the many experiences and accomplishments accrued over the course of my career and it is an exciting opportunity to be an integral part of reshaping UB’s future,” Hubbard said. “I have a deep appreciation for the role of a research university like UB and I am looking forward to working with my UB colleagues and the Western New York community in achieving UB’s goals.”

Dennis Black, vice president for university life and services, and chair of the search committee that assisted in hiring Hubbard, said the position attracted an exceptional pool of highly qualified candidates. “Laura’s reputation for leadership, high-quality work and integrity is very impressive,” Black said. “We are very pleased she is joining the university and will serve on our leadership team.”

At the University of Oregon, which like UB is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), Hubbard was responsible for the primary budget, business and financial operations. She served as the university’s budget officer and advised the vice president for finance and administration on all financial matters.

Hubbard’s accomplishments in Oregon included implementing a strategic plan for financial and business services, and comprehensively reorganizing business functions and processes to better support the university’s mission. She developed a Financial Stewardship Institute (certificate program) and Stewardship Academy for Academic Leadership to enhance organizational capacity across the university in the areas of financial and fiduciary management.

She also led an effort to enhance university relationships with local vendors, particularly minority- and women-owned small businesses.

In previous roles, Hubbard was able to find ways to diversify university revenue streams and implement efficiencies. At the University of Idaho, for example, she made energy-efficiency investments that returned annual savings and paid for themselves in one year. She rebid and restructured health insurance contracts, generating both annual and one-time savings with no reduction in benefits. She also directed successful grant proposals for several capital initiatives, including the University of Idaho Research Park and Center for Science and Technology.

Hubbard is a member of the Society for College and University Planning, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Idaho.