Stephen J. Agostini, a seasoned financial leader with extensive experience across higher education and government, has been appointed UCLA's vice provost and chief financial officer. He is scheduled to take office on May 6th.
Since 2019, Mr. Agostini has served as vice chancellor for finance and budget at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In that role, he collaborates with senior campus leaders, health administrators, and the larger campus community in the strategic management of the university's finances and provides oversight of the school's budget, financial reporting, treasury, debt, procurement and accounting operations. I have maintained it.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Agostini led efforts to maintain university operations and jobs while managing $48.2 million in pandemic relief funds. He also helped resolve a structural gap representing 9% of General Fund expenses and introduced a new allocation model for university facilities and administrative reimbursement totaling $240 million.
In addition, Mr. Agostini led the creation of the university's first “fully-funded” budget totaling more than $4 billion annually from 2021-24. During his tenure, his AAA rating for the campus was confirmed by Moody's, S&P, and Fitch.
Previously, Mr. Agostini served as chief financial officer for U.S. federal government agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Bureau of Economics and Statistics.
President Gene Block and Executive Vice President and Provost Darnell said in a message to the campus today, “Steven has significant experience in financial leadership and management of major public institutions, which makes him a great addition to our campus.'' I am confident that he will be a special addition to our leadership team.”
Earlier in his career, Mr. Agostini served as a senior finance and budget official for Arlington County, Virginia, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, the State of Wisconsin, the City of Philadelphia, the City and County of San Francisco, and the City of Milwaukee. He has advocated on a variety of economic development issues affecting state and local governments, including plans to build new baseball stadiums for the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers.
Born and raised in New York City, Agostini earned a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University and a master's degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
“I am excited and humbled to be joining UCLA as our next university.” Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Financial Officer” Agostini said. “UCLA is one of the most distinguished institutions of higher education in the world, and I look forward to working with outstanding colleagues across the university community to advance UCLA’s excellence as a university while serving our students, faculty, and the state of California. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a leader in higher education.”
Mr. Agostini will succeed Alison Baird James, UCLA's vice provost for business and financial solutions, who has served as interim vice provost and chief financial officer since April 2022.
