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Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (Nov. 29, 2023) – Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., announced today that Curtis Reynolds, vice president for business affairs at the University of Florida, will join the University as vice president of business and finance and chief financial officer, effective March 1, 2024.
Reynolds will be responsible for effectively ensuring and growing the University’s financial strength and operating efficiency. As a member of the President’s Council, he is expected to initiate and maintain progressive systems of financial planning, reporting, business development and reliable revenue streams that enable President Livingstone and other senior leaders, including the Baylor University Board of Regents, to make informed and fiscally responsible decisions in fulfillment of Baylor’s Christian mission.
“I am thrilled to welcome Curtis Reynolds to Baylor University and our leadership team. This is an important season of transition as we prepare to sunset the Give Light philanthropic campaign that has raised more than $1.45 billion and to launch a new strategic plan that builds upon Illuminate, which fueled our elevation as a Research 1 institution,” President Livingstone said. “I am confident Curtis will bring a new entrepreneurial spirit and energy and sound financial principles to this crucial university function. He is a man of faith with a deep understanding of academia at the highest levels, and his leadership and contributions will only serve to deepen our position as a preeminent Christian research university.”
Baylor has remained financially stable during a period of economic strain brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic and residual inflation. In consecutive years, Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research, listed Baylor’s long-term bond ratings at “AA- with a stable outlook.” The University’s debt was recently restructured, and Baylor’s total assets have reached an all-time high of $4 billion. In addition, the University’s impressive endowment returns have drawn national interest in a time of soft returns at other colleges and universities.
As vice president and CFO, Reynolds will oversee all budgeting, business development, financial management, procurement, real estate operations, enrollment management, facilities, information technology and the Office of Investments. He also will spearhead the development, communication and implementation of innovative initiatives intended to grow institutional revenue in an ever-evolving higher education landscape.
“Baylor University holds a unique place in higher education, even as a faith-based institution, and I look forward to becoming a member of the Baylor Family. I am humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with President Livingstone, the President’s Council, the Board of Regents and others on campus as we work together to secure Baylor’s standing as a Christian Research 1 university,” Reynolds said. “I fully embrace Baylor’s commitment to judicious stewardship and financial stability, and I am excited to be a part of the University’s next phase in strategic planning and fiscal growth.”
Reynolds will join Baylor from the University of Florida – a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) and a U.S. News & World Report Top 10 public institution – where he is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of a diversified portfolio of campus business and support services. He has more than 1,400 staff in areas that, in addition to business and finance, include facility design and construction, physical plant and maintenance operations, utilities and auxiliaries, parking and transportation, real estate development, sustainability, campus police and environmental health and safety, among others. Reynolds established Florida’s campus master plan and negotiated development agreements with city and county constituencies for the 16 colleges, 2,000-acre main campus in Gainesville and support facilities extensions across 67 counties in the state.
In addition, Reynolds has implemented nearly $400 million in public/private real estate development projects, and he has developed supply-chain partnership agreements in excess of $150 million. He is currently a member of the University of Florida’s President’s Cabinet and the Gainesville-Alachua County Regional Airport Authority Board. Previously, he served on the University of Florida Research Foundation Board and many other university boards and committees. At Florida since 2010, Reynolds is a seasoned administrator who understands and appreciates the special needs of large and dynamic higher education institutions.
“Curtis embodies a blend of strategic vision and authentic leadership. His transition to CFO is a win for Baylor University and a testament to his expertise and commitment to his strong Christian faith,” said Eddie Daniels, assistant vice president for business services at Florida. “His leadership is genuine and inspires others to reach higher and achieve more. Baylor is fortunate to have such an exceptional professional at the helm of its financial enterprise. We wish him all the best going forward.”
Prior to Florida, Reynolds was vice provost for administration at Miami Dade College, where he was responsible for central business affairs on eight campuses with more than 165,000 students throughout Miami-Dade County in Florida. While at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he was executive director for administration responsible for administration and finance, human resources, energy management and information technology, while ascending to an assistant vice president role.
Reynolds holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He earned an MBA from the University of Alabama and is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Association of Higher Education Officers.
Reynolds and his wife, Keisha, have a Godly blended family of eight children and 13 grandchildren.
Finally, President Livingstone expressed her thanks to members of the search committee who generously offered their time and insights while guiding the Russell Reynolds Associates search firm during this process: Robyn Driskell, Ph.D., and Lee Nordt, Ph.D., (Co-chairs), Cody Hall, Becky Ivy (Human Resources liaison), Sandra Lene’, Mark McCollum, Dave Morehead and Ryan Reed. Additionally, she thanked Susan Anz and Brett Powell, Ph.D., for their service as co-interim chief business officers since July 2023.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
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