Staff

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Lisa Rulney

Senior Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer

Lisa Rulney was appointed Senior Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer in April 2019, having served in the role as interim starting in October 2018. In this position, Lisa serves as the University’s senior business and financial officer with responsibility including financial services, human resources, institutional equity, procurement, contracting, auditing, facilities management, parking, transportation, planning, design and construction of facilities, real estate management, Arizona Public Media, risk management, systems control, and the university police.

As a member of the President’s senior leadership team, Lisa provides strategic leadership to, and direction of, the university finance and administration functions.  Lisa will play a key role in the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan with particular emphasis on Pillar 5.  By design, Pillar 5 deliverables fall to a number of units within Business Affairs.  With oversight over these units, Lisa will work to ensure that she and her team push forward innovative and effective business processes that advance the university and its mission. 

Since joining the University in 2001, Lisa has held a number of financial positions, most recently serving as the Vice President for Financial Services.  She also served as Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration for the College of Engineering; Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration for the College of Education; and Assistant Director, Finance and Administration for the Arizona Research Laboratories.

A member of National Council of Research Administrators (NCURA) since 2001, Lisa has served on regional and national levels and was a NCURA Traveling Faculty member. She is a 2004 graduate of the NCURA Leadership Development Institute.

Lisa received her Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and Master of Business Administration from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.

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Garth Perry

Vice President & Chief Budget Officer

Garth joined the Office of Budget and Planning April of 2014 and was appointed Vice President and Chief Budget Officer September of 2020. In his current role he is responsible for managing and reporting on the University’s approximately $2 billion operating and capital budgets, and for providing strategic decision-support to executive leadership. Garth previously served the Office of Budget and Planning as Assistant Director and has been in successive fiscal leadership roles in the Arizona Research Laboratories and University Animal Care as well as within the UA Bookstores, having been with the University since March of 2004.

Garth received his bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology from Loyola University New Orleans and his master’s in Accountancy from the Eller College of Management. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. Garth has gained a reputation for being unflappably compassionate, always seeking to understand and include diverse perspectives. He is known for his commitment to a culture of continued growth, both for himself and his colleagues, as the team in the Office of Budget & Planning explores new, innovative ways to support the University community.

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Helena Rodrigues

Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer

Helena A. Rodrigues, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, is Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, serving the University of Arizona’s 15,000+ staff and faculty. With a reputation for navigating complex institutional systems, Helena commits herself to building long-lasting relationships, strengthening core organizational values, and spreading best practices, particularly in the areas of diversity and inclusion. 

Over her career, Helena has held leadership roles in both higher education and the private sector. Dedicated to advancing her profession, she currently serves as a member of the national board of directors for the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). She is also a member of the Human Resources Advisory Council for the Pima Community College system in Tucson. In addition to her administrative role, Helena has an appointment as a Professor of Practice in the School of Government and Public Policy in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Providence College and master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Iowa.
 

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Nicole Salazar

Vice President for Financial Services

Nicole serves as Vice President for Financial Services at the University of Arizona. In this role she works with a phenomenal team to address the University’s external and internal financial reporting, coordination of the University’s business offices, maintaining integrated administrative systems, developing and maintaining acceptable levels of administrative and internal control, and devising and implementing best business practices while facilitating the successful execution of the University’s mission. Financial Services plays a vital role in the daily University operations by providing quality financial and business services to support the University’s faculty, staff, and students. The University has been recognized nationally for its excellence in financial reporting; the Government Finance Officers Association has awarded the University of Arizona a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting several years in a row.

Nicole has served the University in various roles in Financial Services for the past nine years. Prior to that, her professional background has included experience in medical billing and front and back office administration, as well as conducting intensive work in audit and consulting consisting generally of healthcare, governmental, tribal, and governmental enterprise clients.

Nicole serves and advises on numerous committees and projects at the University of Arizona including the Internal Audit Review Board and Employee-Related-Expense Committee. Nicole has also been a presenter and facilitator at various WACUBO Annual Conferences, Association of Government Accountants events, and the University’s own Financial Administrator Series.

Nicole received her Accounting education as an undergraduate at Northern Arizona University and continued as a Graduate student at the University of New Mexico, completing her Masters in Accounting. She is also participating as a 2019 fellow in the University of Arizona’s Academic Leadership Institute. Nicole holds a CPA license in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as the CFE designation. She is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Association of Government Accountants.

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Ryan H. Goodell

Vice President for Facilities, Operations and Campus Planning

Ryan H. Goodell joined the University of Arizona in January 2022 as the Vice President for Facilities, Operations, and Campus Planning within the Office of Business Affairs.  In this role, he is responsible for the oversight and operation of the University Planning, Design and Construction organization, which includes real estate and space management; the Facilities Management organization, which includes utilities and energy services and campus landscape and natural resources; and Business Affairs Auxiliary Services, including Parking and Transportation Services, the University Bookstores, and Student Unions.  

Previously, Ryan served as the Associate Vice President for Real Estate and Business Operations at Washington State University. In that position, he was responsible for the University’s real estate, business operations and contracting services.  Ryan served on numerous taskforces and councils related to his work at Washington State University, both within and outside of the State of Washington. Before joining Washington State University, Ryan served in the private sector, where he co-founded and operated a group of successful and interconnected real estate and hospitality companies. 

Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Washington State University, as well as his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University.