TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2018) – David Lechner, an experienced leader in higher education and the private sector, has been selected as the University of South Florida System’s new senior vice president for business and financial strategy, USF System President Judy Genshaft announced today.
Reporting directly to President Genshaft, Lechner will serve as a key member of the university’s leadership team. He will be responsible for overseeing the USF System’s $1.8 billion budget, as well as shaping and implementing sustainable fiscal and operational strategies that support the university’s mission. Lechner’s duties will also include communicating financial information to the USF Board of Trustees, Board of Governors, Governor’s Office and other stakeholders as necessary.
Units that will report through the new senior vice president include the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Office of Business & Finance, Information Technology, Administrative Services and University Audit & Compliance.
“David brings extensive experience in the public and private sectors to this position,” Genshaft said. “With his knowledge of the complexities of a major university’s business and financial operations, together with his leadership skills, David is a great addition to our team.”
Lechner comes to USF from the University of Nebraska, where he served as senior vice president and chief financial officer, directing business operations for a university system with a $2.4 billion budget. Lechner joined the university in 1998, providing the system president with support on financial stewardship and executive leadership initiatives, while helping the institution maintain its Aa1 bond rating.
Prior to his time at Nebraska, Lechner enjoyed a 20-year career with the Deloitte accounting firm. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“I’m excited about this opportunity and anxious to get to work,” Lechner said. “USF has some very talented people and the institution is accomplishing great things. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to lend my experiences and leverage their skills to create even more successes for the university in the future.”
Lechner’s first day with USF will be January 23.