Sparks Named Vice President of Finance and Administration, Chief Commercial Officer – UMaine News

Kelly Sparks, associate vice president of finance and strategic planning at Oregon State University Cascades, has been named vice president of finance and administration and chief business officer for the University of Maine, with a dual report to the University of the Maine System, beginning in October . ten.

She fills the position of Joanne Yestramski, who had a two-year term at UMaine starting in 2020.

“Kelly’s depth of experience will be invaluable in advancing our R1 university and its regional campus,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “Higher education is facing fiscal challenges related to the pandemic and demographics, but at UMaine we also have exceptional opportunities for growth and innovation with the Harold Alfond Foundation’s transformative investment. Kelly will play a vital role in these initiatives and in the partnership with the University of Maine system. »

Sparks’ nearly 30-year career in financial management and strategic corporate planning includes work in international retail with Nordstrom and Coach, and in higher education. She also helped start a non-profit organization to create an early childhood development center in Washington State.

She served as Associate Dean for Finance and Operations at the University of Oregon Law School from 2011-2013 before joining the Oregon State University community. As head of finance and operations at OSU-Cascades, Sparks helped lead the expansion of the new and first college campus in the OSU system.

Sparks holds an MBA and MA in East Asian Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.

“I am thrilled to join the University of Maine and the System,” says Sparks. “I look forward to continuing a strong financial management legacy and contributing creative ideas to support growth in the years to come.”