Two Washington State University employees with more than three collective decades of service between them are being promoted to senior leadership roles.
Jennifer Klein is now the vice president and chief human resources officer after a one-year stint as the interim leader of Human Resource Services, while Deputy Chief Finance Officer Matt Skinner will be heading up a new department within Finance and Administration as the vice president of Finance and Business Services.
“Both Jennifer and Matt are exceptional leaders who are committed to supporting the university’s historic mission,” Leslie Brunnelli, executive vice president for Finance and Administration and chief financial officer, said. “Their expertise and passion will be instrumental in strengthening the university’s day-to-day operations and positioning WSU for long-term success.”
Their expertise and passion will be instrumental in strengthening the university’s day-to-day operations and positioning WSU for long-term success.
Leslie Brunnelli, executive vice president for Finance and Administration and chief financial officer
Washington State University
In response to the rapid change and increasing complexity of the higher education landscape, finance departments across higher education institutions are undergoing significant transformation. These departments, once separate, are now coming together to better coordinate and align institutional priorities with fiscal planning. WSU is no exception, Skinner said, with the new Finance and Business Services department he now leads playing a crucial role in this effort.
Finance and Business Services brings together previously separate functions under one roof to ensure WSU’s fiscal vision and business activities align with the strategic priorities of the institution.
“At this time of transformation and opportunity, the integration of finance and budget is essential to WSU’s success,” Skinner said.
Early focus areas include:
- Improving financial and budget planning processes to more effectively support institutional priorities.
- Enhancing financial performance analysis, reporting, and decision support.
- Deepening internal knowledge-sharing and understanding to reflect the interconnected nature of WSU’s operations.
- Streamlining processes and services to improve effectiveness and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Human Resource Services will also play a critical role in the next chapter of WSU, with Klein at the helm on a permanent basis after spending the past year in the role on an interim basis.
“I’m honored and excited to step into this role and look forward to partnering with colleagues across the university,” Klein said. ”It’s a tremendous opportunity to work with faculty and staff across the system. At the same time, I recognize the complex challenges we face — from evolving workforce needs to organizational change — and I’m committed to a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
In the months ahead, Klein and HRS will be focused on three core issues:
- Enhancing human resources practices to achieve better outcomes
- Identifying and implementing operational efficiencies
- Promoting timely, clear, and consistent communication with employees
All these efforts will be vital, Klein said, as units across the WSU system grapple with budget reductions brought on by reduced federal and state funding.
Klein joined the university in 2008 as a program assistant for employee recognition. She’s previously worked as an HR consultant, consulted on a number of university projects and initiatives, served as the director of human capital management for the Workday implementation and was a senior associate vice president prior to leading the department.
Skinner began working for WSU in 2003. His time at the university included stints as vice provost for budget and planning, university budget director, associate vice president for enterprise systems, and interim vice president for both Information Technology and Finance and Administration.
Both Klein and Skinner say they were drawn to opportunities at WSU because of their passion for the mission of higher education and its ability to help individuals achieve their life and career goals.
