WVU hires chief financial officer with decades of extensive financial experience at flagship, public research universities

Adding a key member to his core leadership team, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson is announcing the hiring of Chris Kabourek, who will bring nearly 30 years of significant fiscal experience in higher education to the role of vice president and chief financial officer.

Kabourek most recently served as senior vice president for administration and planning at The Ohio State University where he led one of the university's largest administrative portfolios, spanning public safety, information technology, campus planning, facilities, real estate and major capital projects.

"In Chris, we've found a creative, dynamic, forward-looking, and solutions-focused CFO who is steeped in the workings of large, public, flagship research institutions, like West Virginia University," President Benson said.

"To advance the University's mission, Chris will provide critical strategic vision, financial stewardship, and operational oversight in the management of our financial health, facilities, technology, and operational infrastructure."

The University's Division of Finance includes strategic planning and analysis, budget planning, institutional accounting, reporting and analysis, payroll, procurement contracting and payment services, risk management and insurance, tax services and treasury operations.

Additionally, Kabourek will oversee Information Technology Services and Facilities Operations, which includes teams responsible for transportation and parking, facilities maintenance, environmental health and safety, roads and grounds, custodial services, construction, real estate and sustainability across the Evansdale, Downtown and Health Sciences areas of the Morgantown Campus.

"The West Virginia University mission is too important for anything less than clear priorities, strong support for its people, and a commitment to investing in the work that matters most," Kabourek said.

Throughout his nearly 30-year career in higher education, the Nebraska native and first-generation college student has provided leadership to support strategic planning, information technology, and scholarship and financial aid programs.

"West Virginians and Nebraskans share so many of the same values - common sense, hard work, accountability, high expectations and getting things done," Kabourek said.

"As a first-generation college graduate, I've seen firsthand how higher education can change the trajectory of a life, and I believe deeply in the essential role land-grant, public research universities play in serving their states, expanding opportunity and improving lives."

In his Ohio State role, Kabourek provided executive oversight for more than $1 billion in active construction and capital work, helped strengthen the institution's public safety strategy, recruited a nationally recognized chief information officer from a peer Big Ten institution, and partnered with Wexner Medical Center leadership on readiness and activation planning for a new $2 billion University Hospital.

Prior to becoming a Buckeye, Kabourek held numerous positions over 27 years with the University of Nebraska System, including interim president and senior vice president and chief financial officer.

As interim president, Kabourek closed a budget gap of more than $40 million, delivered a balanced budget to the incoming president, maintained strong relationships with policymakers and external stakeholders, and led the successful recruitment of Athletic Director Troy Dannen from the University of Washington.

He also launched the Presidential Scholars Program, a full cost-of-attendance scholarship initiative designed to help Nebraska compete more effectively for top in-state students.

As Nebraska's CFO from 2018 until becoming interim president in 2024, Kabourek oversaw all financial and administrative services, supporting a $3 billion annual operating budget and helped modernize the university's financial and capital framework.

He maintained the university's Aa1 Moody's credit rating, led major bond transactions, modernized and restructured the institution's debt program, advanced a long-term deferred maintenance strategy, and helped strengthen the university's competitiveness through both need-based and merit-based financial aid.

His work included launching Nebraska Promise, which expanded tuition-free access for thousands of low- and middle-income students, and creating new pathways to retain high-achieving students in Nebraska.

With more than 50,000 students, the University of Nebraska System encompasses four campuses - a land-grant, research flagship institution and Big Ten member in Lincoln; an academic medical center and a metropolitan campus in Omaha; and an undergraduate focused campus at Kearney.

Kabourek earned a bachelor's degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"I'm excited to get to work with President Benson, incoming Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Beverly Wendland, members of the Board of Governors, and other senior leaders and campus partners to help ensure West Virginia's resources are aligned behind its priorities, its momentum continues to grow, and its future reflects something all West Virginians can be proud of," Kabourek said.

CSA Search and Consulting LLC supported the WVU Search Advisory Committee through the CFO hiring process.

Kabourek's official start date is June 1.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Shauna Johnson
Executive Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
304-293-8302; [email protected]

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