Anne Barnes named interim NU vice president and chief financial officer

University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, announced Monday that he has named Anne Barnes, the vice chancellor for business, finance and business development at UNMC, as the University of Nebraska System’s interim vice president and chief financial officer. Barnes will retain her appointment and responsibilities at UNMC.

Barnes’ appointment is effective immediately, subject to formal approval by the NU Board of Regents.

“Anne Barnes is the right person to keep the University of Nebraska moving forward through this period of transition,” Dr. Gold said.

“Anne knows our system well and builds upon decades of experience in public higher education. I am grateful for her willingness to join our team in the President’s Office and to UNMC Interim Chancellor Dele Davies, MD, for his flexibility in allowing us to borrow some of Anne’s time and skills while we formulate a plan for permanent leadership.”

Barnes said: “I am honored to serve the University of Nebraska and our faculty, staff and students in this interim role and look forward to advancing our mission. We’re fortunate to have a top-notch business and finance team in the Office of the President and across our campuses, who will keep our business operations moving forward smoothly during this critical time.”

Click this link to watch an interview between NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, and Anne Barnes.

Barnes joined UNMC in June 2022 as vice chancellor for business, finance and business development. As vice chancellor, she oversees all budget, finance, operational and administrative services, as well as all business development activities. She previously served as senior associate dean for administration and finance at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, where she served for 25 years as the principal business officer and later also served as chief administrative officer of OU Physicians, the physician faculty practice plans. 

Barnes graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a bachelor’s in business administration with a major in accounting. She received a certified public accountant designation in 1996. Barnes graduated from the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University with a master’s in business administration with high honors in 2007.

Barnes and her husband, Todd, have two adult daughters who live in Norman, Oklahoma. Their oldest, Lauren, teaches high school history and their youngest, Mallory, is in college.