February 6, 2006 Intercom: UT Tyler Names New Vice President for Business Affairs

The University of Texas at Tyler has appointed Gregg Lassen the new vice president for business affairs, President Rodney H. Mabry announced.

Lassen succeeds Dr. Jim Ferguson who is retiring in March 2006, and he was selected in an exhaustive national search that culminated with four finalists from Texas, New Mexico and Mississippi.

“It was obvious the University of Texas at Tyler benefited from its great reputation in the academic community with the number of high quality candidates who applied for the vice president of business affairs position,” President Mabry said. “Gregg Lassen was the top pick out of a very competitive field, and we are fortunate now to have his skills here to help us as we move to a new phase of growth.”

Lassen has been vice president of business and finance and chief financial officer at the University of Southern Mississippi since 2003.

In his new position at UT Tyler, Lassen will serve as a member of the executive staff and act as UT Tyler’s chief fiscal officer. His primary responsibilities will include development of the university’s $62.1 million budget, identify and manage risk, prepare and submit substantial fiscal reports, interact significantly with UT System and state business officials and provide for maintenance of campus facilities.

“I am delighted to become part of the UT Tyler family. There are so many wonderful things happening at UT Tyler that I was excited at the opportunity to participate. During the interview process I was most impressed with the quality of the people I met, and I am looking forward to being part of this great team,” Lassen said.

“My family and I are also very enthusiastic about living in the Tyler area. It is a beautiful community and its citizens have already been most welcoming,” he added.

Departments reporting to him include student business services, budget services, financial services, human resources, physical plant, environmental health and safety, R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center, compliance, campus police and ancillary services which include food services and the bookstore.

He also will oversee the university’s construction projects which currently include the completion of phase one of the $34.85 million Bill Ratliff Engineering and Science Complex and the five-story, 79,968 square foot Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Z. Ornelas Residence Hall.

UT Tyler will break ground this spring on an $11 million addition to its University Center.

While at the University of Southern Mississippi, Lassen oversaw a $250 million budget for the campus, which enrolls more than 15,000 students.

As a member of the executive leadership team, he worked with a range of stakeholders to achieve university goals. He led and supervised the budget office, controller and bursar functions, contracts and grants accounting, purchasing, human resources and the physical plant.

Other responsibilities included developing a master plan for capital projects on Southern Mississippi’s four campuses and managing an extensive capital program of new buildings, plus the maintenance of older facilities.

Lassen was instrumental in outsourcing the university’s food service and renovating an older campus building into a unique dining facility, which increased the revenue and appearance of the campus.

He holds a law degree, with emphases in international and administrative law, from the University of Houston, as well as master’s of business administration and bachelor’s of business administration degrees from the University of Wisconsin.