The University of Wisconsin System has promoted an official to the top financial position, replacing the interim vice president who was also a finalist for the spot.
David Miller, the UW System associate vice president of capital and budget, will replace Interim Senior Vice President for Administration and Fiscal Affairs Michael Morgan, who will finish his three-year term in July.
Miller was selected for the position after being one of four finalists in a search and screen committee, which also named Morgan as a finalist.
“Through greater efficiencies, innovative partnerships and courage to face whatever challenges come our way, our central officers will be able to serve the Board of Regents and the institutions, as well as students, staff, faculty and all Wisconsin taxpayers,” Miller said in a statement. “I am pleased to have this opportunity to help lead the System toward an even brighter and stronger future.”
Miller has worked at the UW System since 1997 and has managed system relationships with universities, lawmakers and state agencies, according to the statement.
At his current position, Miller works with biennial budgets that are often more than $750 million and oversees building projects. He was also the main representative to a legislative task force on UW System flexibilities.
“In this new senior role, he will build upon that record of success and provide long-term stability in this key leadership position,” UW System President Kevin Reilly said in a statement.
Reilly praised Morgan, the outgoing administrator, for being willing to stay on until July and continuing to focus on the overpayments issue at the UW System.
Morgan was brought on in 2010, in part to help replace a nearly 40-year-old human resources system. But since implementing the new HR system, the UW System overpaid more than $34 million, about $20 million of which has already been recovered.
UW System spokesperson David Giroux said the overpayments issue was not why the search committee chose someone other than Morgan.
“[The overpayments] certainly fall under [Morgan’s] area of responsibility, so it’s not unrelated, but I wouldn’t attribute the decision to that,” Giroux said.
Chair of the Assembly’s Colleges and Universities Committee Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, called for Morgan to remove his name from the committee’s consideration because of the overpayments. Nass’ spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
