John Brown Named Fiscal Affairs Chief For University System Of Georgia

Chancellor-designate Hank Huckaby has named John Brown as vice chancellor for fiscal affairs for the University System of Georgia (USG), effective July 1, 2011. Brown will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the University System, including its annual budget.

Brown has served the State of Georgia for more than 26 years with a focus on budget and finance. His most recent service has been in the Georgia House of Representatives as director of the House Budget Office, from 2005 to present. At the University System Office, Brown replaces Usha Ramachandran, who is joining the faculty in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.

“Given his budgeting experience on the state level, I am confident that John will be an outstanding asset to the University System,” Huckaby said. “His understanding of the effect of the recent economic downturn on state government finances will be very valuable to us as we work to meet the budgeting challenges in the University System.”

Brown’s primary responsibilities as vice chancellor will be to manage the University System’s annual budget development and allocation process for its 35 degree-granting institutions and for overseeing the development and implementation of Board fiscal policies and procedures.

He served in the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) as an education analyst for the USG and the Georgia Department of Education from 1986 to 1994. During that time he was involved in the initial development of the Pre-Kindergarten and HOPE Scholarship programs funded by the state lottery. Another focus of his work centered on education finance and the Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula.

Brown served for two years, from 1994 to 1996, as executive director of the Georgia Board of Physician Workforce, the agency that administers medical education and residency programs designed to address the need for medical professionals in Georgia.

In 1996, he returned to OPB, where he worked until 2005, first as the special assistant to the director, then as director of the General Government Division, followed by director of the Educational Development Division. He went on to serve as OPB’s deputy director until his current appointment with the House Budget Office.

Brown holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia.