UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May has appointed Kelly Ratliff to the position of vice chancellor of Finance, Operations and Administration, effective Jan. 1. Ratliff has been serving as the interim leader for that division since May 2016.

“Kelly has been a remarkable and trusted leader who has demonstrated commitment to holding the institution to the highest standards,” May said. “She has a deep knowledge of the university that has led to improved functionality, reporting and accountability. I’m pleased she will take on this major role as we move the university forward.”

In her vice chancellor role, Ratliff will provide organizational leadership and stewardship of campus resources that support research, teaching, and student and community activities. Her portfolio will include finance and resource management, human resources, campus physical planning, facilities and land management, design and construction management, safety and employee health, and the fire department.

Ratliff has a proven track record of leadership during her 30-year tenure with UC Davis. She and her team have engaged in a transformation of campus human resource practices, a transition to a shared-service model, substantial updates to campus financial and business intelligence information systems, and analyses to inform strategic initiatives. In addition, under her leadership, her team has engaged in a comprehensive deferred maintenance and capital renewal plan and a 10-year capital improvement master plan.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be selected for this role,” Ratliff said. “UC Davis is an incredible university, and I have a talented, dedicated team that holds as its vision to strive to make the university better every day.”

Ratliff’s division is responsible for university buildings, facilities, the arboretum and gardens, and it has made sustainability a priority. The division manages the campus’s $4 billion budget and reporting, finances and compliance, and human resources. It monitors and maintains 14 million square feet of office and lab spaces; hires, develops and retains about 15,000 university and clinical staff; provides direct medical care to 10,000 employees per year; models sustainable practices across 5,300 acres of public garden; and operates 400 miles of pipes and vents under- and above-ground. 

In previous roles, Ratliff served as the campus’s chief budget officer and then as associate vice chancellor for budget and instructional analysis. In 2014, she took on the role of senior associate vice chancellor of finance and resource management. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Davis.