ISU names new veep for business affairs

Staff report
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE November 19, 2008 09:21 pm

— An Indiana State University graduate and longtime employee in its business office has been named vice president for business affairs and finance and university treasurer.
Diann McKee had served as interim vice president since July. During her more than 20-year tenure at ISU, she has occupied a variety of positions, including associate vice president, assistant vice president, budget officer and internal auditor.
As vice president, she will be the university’s chief financial officer and will oversee fiscal policies and internal controls, institutional budget, financial accounting systems, facility planning and development, operations and maintenance of facilities, purchasing, payroll and human resources.
“ISU is fortunate to have someone with Diann’s ability and knowledge to oversee this complex area,” ISU President Dan Bradley said in announcing McKee’s appointment.
“We are entering a particularly challenging budgetary period at a time when we have several major building projects nearing completion and are facing additional facilities needs. We can be confident in the financial leadership Diann will provide,” he said.
McKee, a native of Brazil, said she is honored to serve in the position.
“This institution is extremely important to me personally and professionally,” she said. “I think we do transform lives here and I’m very grateful to be part of that.”
The business affairs division has many talented employees, she said. “I have great colleagues I get to work with every day. I look forward to continuing that relationship.”
She is taking the reins of the vice president’s office at a time when the economy is not good and the state is facing financial challenges.
“ISU has dealt with challenges like this in the past,” she said. ISU, as well as all of higher education, must continue to find ways to control costs.
“I think this is in many ways a continuation of the practices we’ve tried to undertake for the past several years,” she said.
McKee earned two degrees from ISU: a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business and a master’s of public administration.
Before coming to work at ISU in 1987, she served for four years as an auditor with the Indiana Board of Accounts.