Terry Pankratz, a university administrator with more than 20 years of experience in business and financial leadership at Texas A & M University, has been named vice president for Budget and Finance at UT Dallas.

Terry Pankratz

Terry Pankratz

UT Dallas President David E. Daniel hired Pankratz for the position after a yearlong national search. The position was created last year to place UT Dallas in structural alignment with best practices in place at national research universities.

In Pankratz’s new role as head of Budget and Finance, he will oversee financial functions including accounting services, financial reporting, budgeting, payroll and the implementation and administration of the HR/Finance system. Wanda Mizutowicz has served as acting vice president for Budget and Finance since January 2012. Mizutowicz will return to her role as associate vice president for Budget and Finance in January 2013.

Pankratz will report directly to Dr. Daniel.

“Terry Pankratz’s experience as a CFO for TAMU (Texas A&M University) will be very valuable to us as we continue working to build operations consistent with a major research university,” Daniel said.

Pankratz has served as the vice chancellor of finance for the University of North Texas System from April 2010 to the present. He functions as the chief business officer and led the implementation of shared business and IT services.  Pankratz led a staff of approximately 300 people with responsibility for all aspects of budget, finance and payroll.

 “His experience at the UNT System includes successful implementation of a shared business services model with some similarity to the HR/finance system we are implementing now,” Daniel said.  “He brings with him a reputation for great people skills and a team-oriented management approach. His career in higher education began in student services, so I’m confident he understands and appreciates the need and value of putting our students at the center of all we do.”

While working at the UNT System, Pankratz designed and implemented a system-wide investment management program, spearheaded process-improvement initiatives that saved more than $550,000 in their first year of use, and created and implemented the system’s first uniform budgeting process.

Pankratz’s work for Texas A&M University and its affiliates spanned a period of more than 20 years and a variety of roles, culminating in his appointment to vice president for finance and chief financial officer.  He managed an annual operating budget of more than $1.2 billion.

Pankratz graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in business administration in accounting in 1987. He earned his MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2007. His professional interests include strategic planning and the application of technology to streamline business functions.

“The opportunity to join UT Dallas as a member of Dr. Daniel’s cabinet at this critical juncture in its evolution was an opportunity I felt compelled to pursue,” Pankratz said. “I am very much looking forward to joining the dynamic UT Dallas campus and contributing my energy and expertise to expanding on the phenomenal success the University has realized in its short history.”