Staff

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John Arnold

Chief Financial Officer

John Arnold serves as the chief financial officer. In this role as the University’s senior business and financial officer, his responsibilities include overseeing Arizona Public Media; Compliance; the Campus Store; Finance & Budget; Financial Operations; Institutional Policy & Projects; Internal Audit; Parking & Transportation; the Privacy Office; and Risk Management.

Prior to his current role, Arnold served as the Arizona Board of Regents executive director, guiding strategic goals to increase educational access and attainment while advancing Arizona’s public university system to serve students and impact Arizona’s economy. He joined the board office in March of 2015 as vice president of business management and financial affairs, developing financial policies and procedures for the university enterprise, addressing capital development and state budget requests, and coordinating system-wide analysis of complex financial issues.

With more than 20 years serving the state of Arizona, Arnold brings significant public service experience and a deep commitment to higher education to the position. He has an exceptional background in financial affairs and a proven track record of leadership, serving as Gov. Jan Brewer’s state budget director where he was instrumental in providing fiscal direction and solutions for the state during the Great Recession as well as implementing the budget and advising the governor on all related matters.

Throughout his career, he has worked with leaders in education from K-12 to college. As director of the Arizona School Facilities Board, he managed programs for new school construction, building renewals, and energy savings.

Arnold is married with five children. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master’s degrees in accounting and public administration from Brigham Young University.

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Garth Perry

Chief Budget & Fiscal Management Officer

Garth was appointed to his current role, leading all central finance and budgetary functions of the university, in 2024. He is responsible for managing and reporting on the University’s approximately $3 billion operating and capital budgets, overseeing the numerous financial operational functions for the university - such as accounting, budget & planning, the Bursar, CatCards, delivery & receiving, financial operations for support units (Finance Strategy & Solutions) payments, payroll, records & archives, supply chain/purchasing, surplus, tax services, travel, treasury - and for providing strategic decision-support to executive leadership. Garth previously served the Office of Budget and Planning as 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 Finance & Budget explores new, innovative ways to support the University community.