UVAFinance Welcomes Abdul Opeloyeru to the Planning and Analysis team.

Abdul at Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Abdul Opeloyeru's path into finance began with a personal experience that shaped his career. Growing up, he watched his father’s business face major financial challenges due to poor money management. Seeing the impact that experience had on his family inspired him to pursue a career in finance, with the goal of helping people and organizations build stronger financial stability.

 
Abdul earned his bachelor's degree in finance and banking from Lagos State University and immediately launched his career in Investment Research at TrustBanc Financial Group. There, he conducted company valuations and developed recommendations for institutional and unit investors. After about 2 years in Investment research, he decided to pursue an advanced, specialized master’s degree in finance at the University of Iowa.

During graduate school, Abdul managed a $26 million endowment fund, focusing on the real estate and financial services sectors of the portfolio, and presented investment recommendations to an experienced board of asset managers. Although he appreciated the analytical and technical side of corporate finance, he realized he wanted to work where the impact felt more visible and personal.

 
“I wanted to deploy my financial training and expertise in environments with much larger impact, whether that means supporting students, quality patient care, or larger institutional missions,” says Abdul

That realization led him to higher education finance. At the University of Iowa, he served as a financial analyst for a clinical department, supporting operational budget, grants, and healthcare-related financial operations before relocating to the East Coast.

Now at UVA, Abdul is excited to apply his background in planning and analysis to work that supports the broader university community.

“What drew me to UVA was the structure of UVA Finance and the opportunity to contribute to financial planning at a high level across Grounds,” he says. “As I settle into the role, I’m excited to learn from experienced colleagues, build relationships across Grounds, and find ways to contribute to the great work already happening at UVA.”

 
In his first few weeks at UVA, he has already noticed a strong sense of collaboration and support within the organization.

 
“I can already tell there is a real commitment to excellence and service here,” he shares. “Everyone has been welcoming, helpful, and invested in helping new employees succeed.”

 
Outside of work, Abdul is passionate about soccer, or football, as he jokingly insists it should be called. He previously played professionally, then decided to pursue finance full-time, and remains a devoted Liverpool supporter and fan of Lionel Messi. In his free time, he also enjoys reading and solving puzzles. 

We are excited to welcome Abdul to UVA Finance and look forward to the experience and perspective he brings to the team.

T&E Card Management Downtime Scheduled for June 18-24

T&E Card Request Functions Temporarily Unavailable June 18–24

Existing T&E Cards will continue to work normally during this period.

The Travel & Expense Team will be launching enhancements to the T&E Card program on June 25 that move card applications and management processes into Workday.

To support this transition, T&E Card request and management functions will be temporarily unavailable from June 18–24, 2026.

Current T&E Cards will continue to function normally for approved business purchases during this time. No action is required for existing cardholders unless you anticipate needing a card-related change during the downtime period.

What Will Be Affected?

During the downtime period, users will not have access to process:

• New T&E Card Applications
• Spending Limit Changes
• Leave Requests
• Card Cancellations
• Department Transfers
• Other T&E Card Management Requests

Please Note: T&E Card request forms will be unavailable from June 18–24 and cannot be submitted during that time.

How to Prepare

If you anticipate needing a new T&E Card or card-related changes in June, we encourage you to submit requests as early as possible.

All requests must be approved by June 17 at 4:00 p.m. to be in effect during the downtime period.

Critical Business Need?
If an urgent card-related issue arises during the downtime period, please email AskFinance@virginia.edu for guidance.

What Happens After June 24?

Beginning June 25, T&E Card requests and management activities will transition to a new Workday-based process that will provide:

• Enhanced request visibility
• Streamlined approval routing
• Improved card management capabilities

Looking Ahead
Additional information, resources, and communications will be shared as the launch date approaches.

Questions?

Email AskFinance@virginia.edu.

______________________________________

Related News: T&E Card Enhancements Moving Toward Launch

Michael Phillips Selected for NACUBO Fellows Program

Congratulations Michael!

We are proud to celebrate Michael Phillips on his selection to the 2026-2027 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Fellows Program, one of higher education's renowned leadership development opportunities for business and finance professionals. 

As assistant vice president and university controller at UVA, Phillips joins an accomplished national cohort of 18 higher education leaders chosen for this immersive year-long program. The NACUBO Fellows Program is designed to prepare leaders for chief business officer roles by strengthening strategic leadership and management expertise through collaboration with university presidents, provosts, and senior financial officers from across the country. 

Since its founding in 2016, the program has helped develop dozens of higher education leaders who now serve as chief business officers at colleges and universities nationwide.

Congratulations to Phillips on this amazing achievement and well-deserved recognition of his leadership contributions to the realm of higher-ed finance. 

To read more about the NACUBO Fellows Program, check out this link.

Anaplan Updates: Training is Coming!

As we move closer to Anaplan go-live, several important activities are underway to help prepare users and support a successful transition from Adaptive. The updates below include information about upcoming training opportunities, key data conversion considerations, and actions units can take now in advance of the July 31 conversion deadline.

Self-Paced Training is Coming Soon

Only users with active Adaptive access will receive a notification when the training becomes available and how to enroll.

• As part of this rollout, the FIN-BI team will enroll users in the Anaplan training workspace, where both self-paced and instructor-led training will take place. Users will receive an email notification from Anaplan like the example shown below.

Example Anaplan email notification

Data Conversion

The FIN-BI team has created a source on the Anaplan Transformation site titled Academic Anaplan Overview for Budget Managers, which is a high-level overview of key changes, planning expectations, and behavior shifts for budget analysts, managers, and leads. This document is not a comprehensive training guide.

While it is important to review this document in preparation for go-live, we want to highlight the Year-One Conversion Notes and Planning Considerations, along with actions you can take now to support data cleanup efforts:

Actions You Can Take Now

Adaptive Input Sheet Notes

Adaptive Input Sheet Notes will not convert to Anaplan. These notes will be archived and made available to units as needed. If there are any current or relevant notes tied to a budget record, they should be moved to the Description field in Adaptive.

This must be completed by July 31 for the information to convert as a budget note in Anaplan.

Position-Employee Conversion

Only active position-employees will convert to the Base and State Bonus, Supplemental, or Wage planning pages in Anaplan. All others will convert to Pooled Labor. The FIN-BI Team will provide impacted units with a list of costing record limit exceptions within the next two weeks.

• If you have budgeted against an employee who is no longer in the position, we recommend cleaning this up in Adaptive prior to July 31.
• Similarly, if an employee is linked to an invalid or outdated position, please update the position association in Adaptive before July 31.

Costing Records Limit

Position-employees will be limited to 10 costing records. Currently, there are over 500 costing exceptions exceeding this threshold. The FIN-BI Team will provide impacted units with a list of costing record limit exceptions within the next two weeks.

Please review and clean up these records, where applicable, prior to July 31.

HCM Salary Exceptions

Some position-employees have salaries in Adaptive that do not align with their Workday HCM salary (e.g., Adaptive shows $125,000 while Workday reflects $50,000). The FIN-BI Team will provide impacted units with a list of costing record limit exceptions within the next two weeks.

• These discrepancies can be corrected in the Working Budget version in Adaptive by July 31.
• If not addressed, we will provide a listing of these exceptions, as they will impact Workforce Planning reconciliation efforts between Adaptive and Anaplan.

Budget Office Hours

Please join us at Budget Office Hours on June 10^th as we dive into these areas in further detail.

Professional Development Corner June 2026

Professional Development Corner

Contributed by Patty Marbury, Director of Training and Development, UVAFinance

Note: Remember to discuss all professional development opportunities with your manager prior to applying for any funds. See below for more information on the Education Benefit.

Small Habits, Big Growth

Make a plan!

Professional development often happens through small actions repeated consistently over time—asking questions, trying new approaches, reflecting on experiences, or making time to learn something new in small doses.

These habits may seem minor in the moment, but over time they build confidence, strengthen skills, and create momentum. A few intentional minutes spent reading an article, listening to a podcast, or completing a short online course, can have a lasting impact when practiced consistently.

In busy times especially, small steps can make development feel more manageable and sustainable. Growth doesn’t always require major changes; sometimes the smallest habits lead to the biggest progress. So this month, choose one small learning habit to focus on this month—something realistic, repeatable, and easy to build into your routine.

Professional Development Opportunities

To help with your planning, following is information about a variety of workshops, courses, and resources to support your ongoing growth. While some opportunities are free and others may have a fee, many do not require travel. Please feel free to share other opportunities you come across and I’ll include them in future communications!

Coursera

Remember that we have access to Coursera, and an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses, specializations, certifications, and degree programs from universities and institutions around the world. UVA has a university-wide subscription for Coursera. Check it out and start learning!

EDUCAUSE Events

What is EDUCAUSE? From their website: “EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to lead the way, advancing the strategic use of technology and data to further the promise of higher education. We connect and empower our member community through insights, advocacy, resources, and learning opportunities to anticipate trends and strengthen professional practice.”

NACUBO*

Washington Updates

• June 29, 2-3 pm ET
• April 6 Recording

Conferences and Forums

• NACUBO 2026 Annual Meeting – July 18-21 in Anaheim, CA
• Virtual Option – July 20-21
• 2026 Planning, Budgeting, and Analytics Forum – October 5-7 in San Diego, CA (Coronado)
• Virtual Option – October 5-7
• 2026 Tax Forum – October 25-27 in Indianapolis, IN
• Online Events - unless indicated, the session is free to NACUBO members, which we are, although you need an individual account.* Some also offer CPE credits.
• Recordings

Self-Paced Courses and Microlearning

• Strategic Higher Education Finance and Planning ($595)
• F&A Short Form ($150)
• Essentials of College and University Accounting ($125)
• Facilities Management ($49)
• Endowment Fundamentals ($49)
• New to Higher Education ($49)

Podcasts

• Career Conversations
• NACUBO in Brief

*Individual NACUBO membership is free through UVA’s institutional membership. To join go to nacubo.org and click on “Login or Join”. From the Login box, click on “Don’t have an account” and fill out the form. In the “Primary Affiliate” field enter “University of Virginia” and select the appropriate affiliate.

SACUBO

• College Business Management Institute – July 26-31 in Lexington, KY (Late registration ends July 21 and the cost is $1025 for the session.)
• 2026 Fall Conference – November 11-13, Myrtle Beach, SC (Save the date; more info coming soon!)
• Did you know?  Through UVA's institutional membership, you have access to lots of SACUBO opportunities.  Read more on the blog.

EACUBO

• Higher Education Leadership Program – August 10-13, 2026, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY ($2,999)
• 2026 Annual Meeting – October 12-15, 2026, Buffalo, NY (Save the date; more info coming soon!)

The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Professional Development Programs
• Virtual Events (many are on-demand and/or free)

Additional Organizations and Resources

NCCI (Network for Change and Continuous Innovation) - NCCI positions higher education institutions to be agile, lifelong learning models to transform lives and communities around the world. All efforts of NCCI trace back to the goal of advancing sustainable excellence in higher education by promoting successful practices and approaches used to drive change, innovation, and continuous improvement across academic and administrative functions.

AGA - is the association that connects and empowers professionals who support government, from financial management to IT, human resources, cybersecurity and more, to advance good government initiatives, grow their expertise and accelerate their careers. (Requires membership.)

LearnBFSI (several interesting for fee courses – note this company is in Australia.)

UVA Organizations

• UVA Organizational Excellence has many learning opportunities, resources, and articles.
• Staying Connected Across Grounds: Organizational Knowledge and Information – June 16 11:00-12:00, Shannon Library, Room 330
• Subscribe to OE’s newsletter.
• UVA Miller Center always has interesting programs.
• UVA Human Resources offers many free programs and courses.
• Learning Tracks | UVA HR – HR has created three learning tracks: Aspiring Managers, New Managers, and Personal Growth (for individual contributors.) These are about a year-long commitment and requires completion of an online form.
• LinkedIn Learning - Human Resources also has links to microlearning courses and to LinkedIn Learning. (Participating in these courses does not require submitting a Professional Development Request Form.)
• UVA Darden Executive Education – Several programs are (with the 50% discount for UVA staff) are under $2,000. Use the discount code UVA50 when registering. (The prices listed are for the full cost.) See the Darden Executive Education program schedule for upcoming dates.
• UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) offers many Certificate programs.

Other Institutions

• Harvard Business School Online offers multi-course credentials and certificate programs – many are less than $2000.
• University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business online programs; many are $1,000 or less.
• Stanford University Executive Education – the self-paced programs are $1,500.

Education Benefit

Each year you have $2,000 of centrally-funded education benefit for professional development or $5,250 to use for tuition toward a degree-seeking program. See https://hr.virginia.edu/career-development/education-benefits-1 for more information. (To be eligible for this benefit, you must have had six months of service in a benefits-eligible position at UVA by the start date of the class, with the intent to remain on the active payroll during the entire term of the class.)

UVAFinance team members – if you have questions about Professional Development opportunities, please contact Patty Marbury, pam5w@virginia.edu.

Article on Leadership

The Top 20 Leadership Challenges--this informative article provides many links to other articles and resources. (Center for Creative Leadership)

Please feel free to share other opportunities you come across and I’ll include them in future communications!

__________________________________________________________

Related Content: Microsoft Copilot Workshop at UVA School of Data; Organizational Excellence Building Connections Workshop

Microsoft Copilot Workshop - June 25

Join us!

Looking to get more value out of your everyday work and increase productivity? Microsoft Copilot can help! UVA Information Technology Services (ITS) is hosting a hands-on Microsoft Copilot workshop designed to help faculty and staff utilize Copilot for their daily workflows. 

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, June 25
• Time: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
• Location: UVA School of Data Science, Classroom 305
• Cost: Free!
• In-person, interactive sessions

What You'll Learn 

Copilot 101: Foundations & Everyday Use

• Learn how to access and navigate Microsoft Copilot 
• Explore core capabilities across M365 tools like Outlook 
• Understand real-world use cases to boost productivity 
• Get introduced to newer features such as Outlook grounding and Office agents 

Agent 101: Building Your First Copilot Agent 

• Learn how to create simple Copilot agents 
• Explore practical scenarios for automation and customization 
• Understand how to extend Copilot to meet your specific needs 

Flexible Session Options 

Attend one or more sessions depending on your schedule: 

• Morning Track
• 9:00 - 10:30 AM: Copilot 101
• 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Agent 101 
• Afternoon Track 
• 1:30 - 3:00 PM: Copilot 101
• 3:30 - 5:00 PM: Agent 101

Why Attend?

Through attending these sessions, you'll gain practical skills you can use immediately in your everyday work, while building confidence with AI-powered tools in Microsoft 365. You'll learn directly from Microsoft-led instruction to explore how Copilot can streamline communication, content creation, and workflows. 

How to Register

• Reserve your spot via Eventbrite (limited capacity)
• Eventbrite link to register 

Join Organizational Excellence on June 16: Building Connections Through Knowledge Sharing

As UVA continues to grow, effective communication and knowledge sharing across departments, schools, and teams are more important than ever. 

Join Organizational Excellence on June 16 for an interactive discussion exploring how information moves across the University and how we can strengthen collaboration, learning, and connection across Grounds.

Presenter: Peer-to-peer sharing and learning

When: June 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Shannon Library, Room 330
Register Now

Participants will share experiences, discuss what is working well, identify challenges, and explore questions such as what types of information are most valuable, how knowledge is accessed and shared across the University, and where opportunities exist to strengthen communication and connection across roles, teams, and departments. 

Together, attendees will consider how UVA can foster greater shared understanding and organizational learning in support of its mission.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to register and join the conversation.

Year End Closing Reminder (and Fiscal New Year's Resolutions!)

Get ready to ring in the fiscal new year!

As fiscal year-end continues, now is a great time to revisit the 2026 Year-End Closing Dates and make sure upcoming deadlines are on your radar.

The Year-End Closing Dates page allows you to:

• Sort activities by date
• Filter by functional area
• Focus on the deadlines most relevant to your work

With several important deadlines approaching in the weeks ahead, a quick check now can help avoid last-minute surprises later.

Fiscal New Year’s Resolutions

Year-end is also a great opportunity for a little financial housekeeping before we begin FY27.

As you review your area’s financial activity, consider adding a few “Fiscal New Year’s Resolutions” to your checklist:

• Review DN/GR/GF combinations within your cost centers to ensure appropriate fund balances (all fund balances should either be zero or have a credit balance) 
• Deactivate outdated or unused worktags
• Review recurring suppliers, subscriptions, or services to confirm they are still needed
• Clean up old reports, files, or approval queues
• Revisit processes or documentation that may need updates for the new fiscal year

Taking time for this kind of data hygiene now can help support cleaner reporting, smoother processes, and better decision-making all year long.

Need Help?

Year-end can be busy, but you do not have to navigate it alone.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Ask Finance at askfinance@virginia.edu.

Olga Weider Joins SACUBO Committee + Membership Benefits

Congrats, Olga!

UVAFinance is proud to share that Olga Weider, Deputy Vice President for Finance, will serve on the Research Universities Constituent Committee for the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO).  

SACUBO brings together higher education business and finance professionals to share ideas, develop professional skills, and build relationships that help strengthen our colleges and universities. Through this role, Weider will collaborate with peers from other institutions to help support professional development opportunities and foster the exchange of leading practices across the higher education community. 

While committee service is one way to engage with SACUBO, the broader opportunity is available to all of all UVA employees through our institutional membership. We encourage UVA's fiscal administrators to explore the benefits of our institutional membership and consider becoming involved. 

Through UVA's institutional membership, employees have access to valuable opportunities, including: 

• Annual conferences and regional events focused on higher education business 
• Networking and relationship-building opportunities with colleagues across higher education 
• Professional development programs and educational offerings at discounted member rates 
• Mentoring and career development opportunities 
• Volunteer and leadership opportunities within the profession 

Many of the challenges we face at UVA are shared across higher education. One of the greatest benefits of SACUBO membership is the opportunity to learn from colleagues who are tackling similar issues and to bring those ideas back to our institution. This spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement aligns closely with UVA Finance's commitment to learning, innovation, and service. 

Professional associations thrive because of volunteers who are willing to share their expertise and invest in the future of the profession. Through her service, Weider looks forward to strengthening connections between UVA and the broader higher education community while helping advance the profession across the region. 

To learn more about SACUBO membership opportunities and available resources, visit SACUBO Membership Information or contact Weider at oweider@virginia.edu.  

Paul Grisdale Receives PayrollOrg's 2026 Meritorious Service Award

Congratulations Paul!

We are excited to congratulate Paul Grisdale on being selected as a recipient of PayrollOrg's 2026 Meritorious Service Award.

Grisdale was formally recognized for this achievement during the Expo Grand Opening and General Session at PayrollOrg's 44th Annual Payroll Congress in Nashville, TN, earlier this May. The Meritorious Service Award honors PayrollOrg members who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication toward advancing the payroll profession via meaningful volunteer service, at both national and local chapter levels. 

Representing more than 30,000 members and subscribers, PayrollOrg is widely recognized as the nation's leader in payroll education and advocacy. The organization is committed to advancing the expertise of payroll professionals through educational collaboration, representing professionals at the federal, state, and local levels, and providing public education on payroll and employment-related issues. 

Grisdale's dedication to both UVA and the payroll profession has made an incredible impact at the University and within the greater payroll community, and this recognition reflects his outstanding leadership, service, and overall commitment to excellence. 

Congratulations Paul, on this well-deserved award!

Procurement Corner

Concur Updates Are Coming

What Travelers and Travel Assistants Should Know

Updates are coming to UVA’s travel booking experience.

Updates arriving soon!

Christopherson Business Travel (CBT), UVA’s travel management company, will transition to a new reservation and ticketing system later this month as part of ongoing efforts to improve the travel booking experience and expand available travel options for the UVA community.

There are a few temporary impacts and important dates that travelers and Travel Assistants should be aware of during the transition period.

Concur Downtime

To complete the transition, Concur will be temporarily unavailable beginning Friday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Access is expected to return by the morning of Saturday, May 23.

During downtime:

• Travelers may still book or modify reservations by contacting CBT directly
• Standard booking fees may apply for reservations requiring advisor assistance

What’s Changing?

CBT will complete its system upgrade on May 22.

Reservations booked before May 23 will remain active and valid, but previously booked trips will have limited self-service functionality after the transition.

This means:

• Travelers and Travel Assistants will still be able to view existing trips in Concur
• Existing reservations booked before May 23 cannot be modified directly in Concur
• Changes or cancellations for those reservations will require assistance from a CBT advisor
• Standard booking fees may apply when advisor assistance is required

The primary impact will be to reservations created before the upgrade.

Why This Update Matters

While transitions like this can have impact, the goal is a more modern and streamlined travel booking experience moving forward.

The upgrade supports expanded travel capabilities and continued improvements to how UVA travelers book and manage travel arrangements.

Key takeaways:

• Review upcoming travel before the May 22 downtime
• Be aware that older reservations may require advisor support for changes
• Allow extra time if modifications may be needed during the transition period

Need Help?

Travelers and Travel Assistants needing assistance with reservations during the transition should contact CBT directly:

Phone: 844-488-2228

Email: UVA@CBTravel.com

For more information and to see a preview of the new Concur platform, please see this FAQ page.

T&E Card Enhancements Moving Toward Launch

Enhancements are coming!

UVAFinance is preparing to introduce enhancements to the Travel & Expense (T&E) Card process later this June, including the transition of the T&E Card Application and Change Requests into Workday.  

These updates are intended to create a unified experience for cardholders, requesters, approvers, and support teams by leveraging Workday functionality to improve visibility and streamline the request process.  The enhancements also support ongoing efforts to modernize and align purchasing and payment-related activities within a cohesive Workday-First experience.  

Over the coming weeks, additional information will be shared regarding training resources, support materials, timelines, and what the transition will mean for the UVA community.  Prior to launch, there will also be a temporary period of downtime to support final transition activities.  

UVAFinance teams are available to the UVA community as these enhancements are introduced over the coming weeks.  

UVAFinance Team: Share Your 2026 Graduates With Us!

Celebrate your graduates!

Happy Graduation season! It's time to celebrate all of our students' academic achievements and success!

If you or someone in your immediate family is graduating this year, your UVAFinance teammates would like to celebrate alongside you. Whether they're graduating preschool, high school, college, or receiving their PhD, we'd love to take the time to honor them.

Please share your news with the blog by emailing us at bv8h@virginia.edu before the end of June.

Please make sure you provide:

• Your name
• Your student's name(s)
• Relationship to your student
• Where they're graduating from

Feel free to include a picture of your grad as well! Graduates will be shared this June. 

UVAFinance Welcomes Tracy Pavone as Executive Assistant to VP for Finance and CFO

Congrats Tracy!

We are excited to share that Tracy Pavone has been selected as Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Finance and CFO.

Many of you are already familiar with Pavone from her work supporting Olga Weider and Michael Phillips since joining the UVAFinance team in June 2025. Since Jill Simpson's departure earlier this spring, Tracy has also served as the interim executive assistant, helping to ensure continuous support throughout this transitory period.

Pavone officially assumed the role of Executive Assistant on May 11 and will continue to support Weider and Phillips, in addition to her new, expanded responsibilities.

Pavone brings decades of experience in coordination and management, along with several years of service within the University's Health System. Throughout her time with UVAFinance, she has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, responsiveness, and a commitment to supporting both our team and our stakeholders.

We are thrilled to have Pavone step into this new role, and we look forward to her continued, future contributions to the UVAFinance team.

Please join us in congratulating Pavone on her new position!

Matt Carter Brings Years of Higher Education Experience to UVAFinance

Matt with his wife and two daughters.

Whether he is traveling with family, attending a live concert, or learning the details behind a new financial system, Matt Carter enjoys experiences that allow him to connect with people and learn something new. That curiosity has followed him throughout both his personal life and professional career, eventually leading him to UVA Finance after nearly 15 years at Virginia Tech.

Carter joins UVAFinance with a background in public accounting, asset management, and higher education finance. Much of his past experience has revolved around helping departments manage equipment, navigate financial processes, and support the operational side of university systems.

Early in his career, Carter worked in public accounting and was introduced to fixed asset audits before moving to the private sector. While working for a coal company in Southwest Virginia, a staffing change within his department created an unexpected opportunity for Carter to step into a larger role supporting fixed assets. What began as temporary help filling a gap eventually evolved into leading that area full-time, giving him experience managing equipment, processes, and operational reporting.

Carter later moved to the Blacksburg area, where he spent nearly 15 years in higher education finance and asset management at Virginia Tech. He supported campus departments with equipment management, reporting, and operational finance, gaining broad experience in the university setting. He has come to appreciate the variety that working in higher education offers. 

“I like that you are able to see different things,” he shares. “Every department is buying something different. There are farms, research labs, and all kinds of projects happening across campus.”

For Carter, the role goes beyond systems and reporting. He values the opportunity to connect with people across Grounds and gain a deeper understanding of the projects, research, and operations happening throughout the University community. “There is a lot of work behind the computer,” he says, “but there is also the opportunity to meet people and learn about their research and what is happening across campus.”

Although Matt was not actively seeking a new position, a former supervisor encouraged him to consider UVAFinance. As he progressed through the process, he recognized strong potential for professional growth and new challenges in higher education finance.

Since joining UVA, Carter has been impressed by the welcoming environment. He notes that “What I have noticed most is the people,” he shares. “Everyone has been very kind, warm, and welcoming.”

As he settles into the role, Carter is focused on learning UVA’s systems and processes while finding ways to support both his team and departments across Grounds. Having worked in similar areas previously, he noted that many of the goals remain the same even when the terminology and systems differ.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and spending time with his wife and two daughters, Hope and Anna. A highlight was studying abroad in Spain, where he traveled throughout the country and visited Portugal. He hopes to visit Australia and New Zealand in the future.

Carter also enjoys live music and has attended concerts with family and friends for years. He says “Some of the best concerts are the ones you do not expect much from. You end up having a great time.”

We are excited to welcome Matt to UVAFinance and look forward to the experience and perspective he brings to the team.

From Operations Leadership to UVA Finance: Meet Nina Padberg

Nina Padberg and her dog Penny

UVAFinance is pleased to welcome Nina Padberg as Service Experience Manager for the "Ask Finance" Team.

Originally from the Netherlands, Padberg brings a strong background in operations, customer support leadership, and team development to UVAFinance. She earned her bachelor's degree in public administration in the Netherlands before completing her master’s degree in European Studies at the University of Münster in Germany.

Her original career goals centered on nonprofit and public-sector work, but her professional path eventually led her into operations and customer support leadership, where she developed a strong interest in people management and process improvement. Her experience spans customer support, training, analytics, quality assurance, and workforce management.

Before joining UVAFinance, Padberg worked with organizations including Rosetta Stone, Frontpoint, and CarMax.

Padberg looks forward to collaborating with her team and building strong relationships across the University in her new role.

“I’ve only been with the team a short time, but I can already tell they are very passionate about going above and beyond for customers,” Padberg shared. “I’m really looking forward to working with them, strengthening operational processes, and continuing to strengthen relationships so Finance Solutions can remain a respected partner within the finance department.”

Outside of work, Padberg enjoys time with her family, traveling, visiting farmers' markets, knitting, and watching baking shows. She lives in the Richmond area with her husband and daughter and is an active member of the local running community, which she describes as supportive and family-like. She plans to complete a marathon later this year.

Padberg’s favorite travel destination has been Costa Rica, particularly the west coast, where she enjoyed the beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and natural scenery.

Please join us in welcoming Nina to UVAFinance.

UVAFinance in Action: May 2026

Email Security Tool Review & Approval Support - Heather Hite

Heather Hite

Throughout the recent review and approval process for the abnormal email security tool, Heather Hite (Category Manager - IT and Scientific Discovery) provided exceptional support to the Procurement team. She was consistently responsive to the team's needs and proactive in helping to identify and clarify potential obstacles along the way. Heather's contributions were instrumental in securing this security tool and played a key role in the overall success of the project. Within just the first few days of deployment, this tool has already driven an over 87% reduction in phishing attempts by effectively blocking them. This percentage is expected to continue improving as the model is trained on additional data, further reducing after-hours calls by resolving issues that previously required team intervention. Thank you to Heather and the Procurement team for your dedication and hard work throughout this effort!

Thanks to all who joined!

Department Finance Partners Kickoff

On May 12, UVAFinance hosted our first Department Finance Partners session, bringing together colleagues from schools and units across Grounds, both in person and via Zoom.

The session provided an opportunity to connect, share updates on current UVAFinance priorities and initiatives, and hear feedback and perspectives from our partners across the University community.

We are grateful for the strong collaboration and engagement of this group and appreciate everyone who took time out of a busy season to join us. We’re fortunate to work alongside such thoughtful and dedicated partners, and we look forward to what we’ll continue to accomplish together!

Annual Attestation Process Completed Successfully

Thank you for attesting to your team's roles!

As another Workday Attestation cycle comes to a close, we want to take a moment to recognize the collective effort across the University community that made this work possible.

From managers in the University Medical Center and UPG to teams across UVA’s Academic Division, your time and attention helped ensure that employees have the right access to do their work and that our sensitive financial and HR data remain properly protected.

That may sound simple, but it plays a critical role in protecting our systems, safeguarding data, and supporting compliance across the University. Thank you for taking the time, especially during a busy time of year, to complete this important work.

Your partnership helps ensure that Workday remains a secure, reliable system that supports UVA’s mission in education, research, and healthcare.

By the Numbers

This year’s attestation cycle included:

1,368

Managers participating across UVA

3,330

Employees reviewed

38,762

Individual assignable roles evaluated

Across 229 role-based and user-based security groups

As a result:

423 roles

1.3%

Removed to better reflect current responsibilities

38,144 roles

96.8%

Approved for continued access as assigned

These numbers tell a story of active stewardship: ensuring our systems stay aligned with our people and processes.

Shoutouts Across Grounds

This work reflects coordination across many schools, units, and leadership teams. Special thanks to the FAN representatives and participating managers who helped move this work forward in their areas.

Special Shout Outs: Charles Rush, Emily Stuckey, Wayland Bryan, Megan Lowe, John Mastrandea, Scott Willis, Ty Jablonski, Anjula Joseph, Brendon Coll, Allison Holt, and our executive leadership who knocked it out of the park (Lori McMahon, JJ Davis, Augie Maurelli, Brie Gertler).

Behind the Scenes: Supporting the Process

Efforts like this do not just happen; they are supported every step of the way by teams working behind the scenes.

A special thank you goes to Dawn Wood of the Ask Finance Team, who provided dedicated, “white glove” support throughout the campaign. From answering questions to helping managers navigate the process, Dawn ensured that stakeholders had a clear path forward at every stage.

Additional appreciation goes to the teams and partners who supported communications, troubleshooting, identity and access management, and stakeholder support throughout the campaign.

Why Attestation Matters

At its core, attestation is about more than checking a box.

By pausing to review and confirm access, we:

• Strengthen the integrity and security of our systems
• Reduce risk by ensuring access is appropriate and up to date
• Support compliance with internal controls and external expectations
• Enable our teams to work efficiently with the tools and data they need

It is a simple step with a significant impact, and one that helps us continue to be strong stewards of University resources.

Anaplan Advancements: User Acceptance Testing in Action

Stay up-to-date on Anaplan advancements!

Over the past several months, the University's Anaplan implementation for the Academic Division has continued to make meaningful progress. This effort has been shaped by ongoing collaboration with key stakeholder groups and the broader Budget Community, including engagement through Budget Office Hours. As we move closer to go-live, User Acceptance Testing marks an important milestone in ensuring Anaplan's system is ready to support UVA's budgeting needs. 

Recently, Michelle Gregory, Manager of Finance Data and Analytics, led a series of User Acceptance Testing sessions focused on validating key components of the Anaplan system. These sessions brought together colleagues across schools and units to actively test functionality and provide real-time feedback. 

User Acceptance Testing in Action

The testing sessions spanned two days, covering a wide range of functional areas essential to the budgeting process, including:

• Vacant Position Management & Base Planning
• State Planning 
• Supplemental, Wage, & Bonuses
• New Positions
• Pooled Labor
• Deployment Topics 
• Data Conversion 
• Reconcilement

This phase of implementation is intentionally collaborative and iterative. Participants were encouraged to ask questions, share insights, and identify opportunities for improvement. Feedback was incorporated in real-time, so that the system could be refined as testing progressed. This collective approach ensures that Anaplan reflects how budgeting works across Grounds, while also introducing thoughtful enhancements.

Michelle Gregory at a UAT session

Looking Ahead

As testing wraps up, the team is focused on preparing for the next phase of implementation. We are now approximately five months away from the FY28 Budget Kickoff and the full transition from Adaptive to Anaplan. 

We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise, and reflective feedback throughout this process (including our consulting partner, Tru Consulting!). Your collaboration is helping us build a stronger, more effective budgeting platform for the future!

Celebrating Nancy Honeywell: 37 Years of Service

Nancy Honeywell

After 37 years at UVA, Nancy Honeywell is retiring, leaving behind a lasting impact across Finance and the broader University community.

Nancy’s journey at UVA began in 1982 in the Physics Department, where she served as a technical secretary, supporting professors and staff on the department word processor, at the time considered cutting edge technology.

Even early on, her ability to stay calm under pressure was clear. During final exams in 1984, someone called in a bomb threat. Nancy put the caller on hold, not once, but five times, while alerting her colleagues and UVA Police.

Her work continued to grow across the University. In the Biology Department, she helped develop one of UVA’s first travel and expense processes, creating a structure that is still in use today. In 1999, she joined the Integrated Systems Project, supporting the implementation of Oracle’s grants module. After go live, she spent several years on the HR Training Team, helping colleagues learn and use new systems with confidence.

Nancy later moved to ITS Enterprise Applications as a Grants Functional Analyst, where she supported major initiatives and worked closely with teams across the University. Most recently, she served as a Workday Senior Finance Analyst, partnering with the Office of Sponsored Programs and supporting day to day work with care and accuracy.

Sue Clements shared that Nancy was someone people relied on. She followed through, took the time to help others understand their work, and made sure things were done correctly. She also invested in others, sharing her knowledge and helping colleagues grow over time.

Thomas C. Schneeberger noted the consistency Nancy brought to her work. She paid attention to details, stayed focused, and handled her responsibilities with care. He shared that even in the years they worked together, it was clear how much others depended on her.

Nancy’s impact is reflected in the people she supported, the work she helped complete, and the trust she built across teams.

Please join us in congratulating Nancy on her retirement and thanking her for 37 years at UVA.

Tracy Marcotte Joins 2026-2027 ACE Leadership Seminar

Congrats, Tracy!

Please join us in congratulating Tracy Marcotte on her selection to the 2026–2027 Senior Leadership Seminar, hosted by the American Council on Education Women’s Network Virginia. 

This highly competitive program brings together emerging and established leaders from colleges and universities across the Commonwealth to strengthen leadership skills, expand professional networks, and foster collaboration in higher education. 

Marcotte will participate in a series of sessions held at Radford University, Hilton Downtown Richmond, and Norfolk State University, culminating in the Annual State Conference. Her selection reflects both her dedication to leadership and her continued impact within the UVA community, and we look forward to the perspectives and experiences she will bring back to Grounds.

HR NEWS - APRIL 2026

You Career Growth 

There are several upcoming HR and well being opportunities worth adding to your radar this spring, along with a few helpful resources for caregiving, career development, and benefits support.

Managing Early Career Employees:  Managers looking to better support early career employees may want to check out Managing Early Career Employees. This virtual session focuses on helping emerging talent grow through thoughtful feedback, development opportunities, and clear career pathways.

• When? April 22, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. 
• Where? Virtual
• Sign up HERE

How to have a Career Conversation with Your Team Members (Managers): This workshop is geared toward managers who want practical guidance on leading effective career conversations and preparing for next steps with their teams.

• When? May 5, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 pm
• Where? Virtual
• Sign up HERE

Career Tip of the Month

This month’s career tip is also a good reminder: invest in workplace relationships. Setting up coffee chats, checking in regularly, and showing appreciation can go a long way in making collaboration easier and work more rewarding. Book an appointment with us to discuss!

Your Benefits, Health, and Well-Being 

• Micro Breaks continue through May 21, offering short sessions designed to help participants reset through mindfulness, movement, and stress relief practices.

• The Hoos Well 1% Challenge begins May 5 and encourages participants to practice mindfulness for less than 15 minutes a day for 25 out of 40 days. Those who complete the challenge can earn a $50 reward.

• Looking ahead, employees can also explore Investing Essentials: Five Principles to Invest with Confidence on May 4 (11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.) and Healthcare in Retirement on May 6 (10:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m.).