UT MARTIN HOSTS OPEN FORUMS FOR CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER

UT MARTIN HOSTS OPEN FORUMS FOR CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
MARTIN, Tenn. – Candidates for a permanent vice chancellor for finance and administration at
the University of Tennessee at Martin will be interviewed the week of March 12 at the main
campus. The candidate chosen in the national search will serve as the university’s chief business
officer. Four candidates are scheduled to visit campus and participate in open forums March 12-
16. All forums will be held from 3-4 p.m. in room 229 of the Boling University Center.
Matthew Bierman will speak during the first forum March 12. Bierman is currently vice
president for administrative services at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. He has
been with Western Illinois University since 1999 when he started as complex director and has
since held the posts of both assistant director and director of residential facilities, director of
university budget, and interim director of business and financial services before beginning his
current position in 2016.
Bierman holds a bachelor’s degree in information management from Western Illinois University;
a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana;
and a master of business administration in finance and supply change management, also from
Western Illinois University.
Petra McPhearson will participate in a forum March 13. She has served as interim vice
chancellor for finance and administration at UT Martin since January 2016. She began working
for UT Martin in 2011, and served as both interim director and director of budget and
management reporting. Before coming to Martin, she held several positions with the UT Health
Science Center in Memphis and Bethel University in McKenzie.
McPhearson holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Alcorn State University in Lorman,
Mississippi, and a master’s degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas in
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Paul Edwards is the third finalist and will speak during an open forum Wednesday, March 14.
Edwards is currently assistant dean of finance and administration in the College of Health
Professionals at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis, a post he has held since 2016. Before
accepting this position, he served as both adjunct professor of accounting and manager of
accounting at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia; assistant vice president for business
affairs at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky; and senior accountant at Longwood
University in Farmville, Virginia.
Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida in Tampa,
Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Liberty University. He has also earned a
master’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and a master of business
administration degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Marilee Montanaro is the final candidate and will present her open forum Friday, March 16.
Montanaro is the director for finance and administration for Golisano Children’s Hospital at the
University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. She has held this position since 2013 after
serving as director of financial reporting and projects at the Rochester Institute of Technology
and holding several previous positions at the University of Rochester.
Montanaro holds both a bachelor’s degree in health and society and a master of business
administration degree from the University of Rochester, as well as a doctoral degree in education
from St. John Fisher College in Rochester.
The vice chancellor for finance and administration is a member of the chancellor’s leadership
team. This position oversees the areas of budget and management reporting, business services,
the bursar’s office, human resources, physical plant administration, public safety, contracts, the
university bookstore, environmental health and safety, and emergency management.
“The vice chancellor for finance and administration plays a vital role in helping UT Martin
remain a top-choice regional institution,” said Carver. “I am confident we will find a candidate
who can help us reach our goals and make future Skyhawks proud to call UT Martin home.”
The search committee includes both faculty and staff members as well as student representation.
Dr. Lynn Alexander, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, is serving as committee
chairperson. Other committee members are:
 Amy Belew, interim chief information officer, Office of Information Technology
 Bill Brundige, human resources specialist, Office of Human Resources
 Phyllis Hammer, administrative support assistant, Department of Public Safety,
representing the Employee Relations Council
 Dr. Renee LaFleur, associate professor, Department of History and Philosophy,
representing the Faculty Senate
 Dr. Jamie Mantooth, executive director, Office of Enrollment Services and Student
Engagement
 Gina McClure, assistant vice chancellor for student and residential life, Office of Student
Life
 Dr. Desiree McCullough, director, Office of Institutional Research
 Kurt McGuffin, director, Office of Intercollegiate Athletics
 Tim Nipp, director, UT Martin Physical Plant
 Dr. Simpfronia Taylor, director, UT Martin Ripley Center
 Holly Seng, a junior communications major from Union City and representative of the
Student Government Association
Ashlie Czyz, director of human resources programs and executive recruiter for the University of
Tennessee System, is serving as executive recruiter for this position. For more information or to
view full finalist resumes, visit utm.edu/cbosearch.
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PHOTO ID: Headshots of each candidate are provided.