Meet Ken Kodadek, Senior Contract Specialist

Nice catch, Ken!

Ken Kodadek joins UVAFinance as a Senior Contract Specialist with over a decade of experience supporting contract administration and procurement operations in higher education.

Before joining UVA, Kodadek worked at Pennsylvania State University, where he handled the full scope of procurement. His work focused on reviewing and negotiating contracts, supporting procurement operations, and improving the functioning of university processes. Kodadek consistently worked to improve procurement processes.

Kodadek earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Pennsylvania State University and later earned his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law. Before entering higher education procurement, he worked as a law clerk at a few law firms. In those roles, he handled cases through every stage short of appearing in court. He prepared legal documents, reviewed materials, and set cases up for supervising attorneys to litigate. Through this experience, Kodadek discovered a strong interest in contract law and transactional work, particularly reviewing business agreements and legal documents.

That interest led him into procurement. Kodadek was initially hired for his document-review background, but his responsibilities expanded significantly over time. As procurement processes evolved, he became involved in audits, procure-to-pay workflows, and broader process changes. He worked to understand how the procurement function operated as a whole and to improve how work moved through the system. By the time he left Penn State, Kodadek was involved in all aspects of procurement and had a deep understanding of the end-to-end process.

For Kodadek, the most rewarding part of procurement work is watching others grow and being involved in meaningful process change. He values seeing improvements take hold and knowing that his work helps teams function more effectively.

At UVAFinance, Kodadek supports contract administration during an active period of procurement transformation. Having worked within evolving procurement environments, he brings experience navigating process change and contributing to teams during transition. He is focused on learning UVA-specific policies and state requirements while supporting the continued development of procurement operations.

Outside of work, Kodadek enjoys spending time outdoors. He is an avid fisherman who often hikes 6 to 7 miles on a single fishing trip, seeking out quiet, less-traveled creeks. He also enjoys the beach, particularly Cape Lookout in the Outer Banks, which can only be reached by ferry and offers a more remote experience. In addition, Kodadek has been smoking meat for more than 25 years using traditional methods and is a longtime muscle car enthusiast.

Kodadek previously lived in the Charlottesville area in the early 1990s and has long held a strong respect for UVA and its culture. He is excited to contribute his experience, support procurement operations, and be part of the University’s ongoing work.