New chief financial officer selected UI President B. Joseph White has recommended Walter K. Knorr to serve as the university’s vice president and chief financial officer. Pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its Jan. 18 meeting, Knorr will begin his duties Feb. 1. At that time, Steve Rugg will shift back to his duties as vice president for planning and administration. An experienced public finance expert currently serving as comptroller of Cook County, Knorr previously served as comptroller and chief financial officer of the city of Chicago, reporting to Mayor Richard M. Daley. “Well-known and well-regarded in the public finance sector as an innovator and a straight shooter, Walter emerged from a national search that fielded 118 candidates,” White wrote in an e-mail message to the campuses. The search was assisted by the executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates Inc. A search consultative committee was chaired by Urbana business professor David Ikenberry and comprised senior faculty members and administrators from the three campuses, including the chancellors. Also at the January meeting, the board will consider White’s recommendation of Jim Weyhenmeyer as interim vice president for technology and economic development. As associate vice president, Weyhenmeyer has spent the last six years of his 26-year UI career involved in all aspects of the universitywide technology and economic development operations. As part of the transition to new leadership in this area, White initiated a review of the university’s accomplishments and future challenges in technology and economic development. Leading the review will be Prith Banerjee, dean of the College of Engineering at the Chicago campus, and Avijit Ghosh, dean of the College of Business at the Urbana campus. At the conclusion of their work, which should last about three months, the university will begin a search for a permanent vice president.
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