Colorado State University Selects Vice President, Appoints Proven Leader to Key Administrative Position

Colorado State University today filled one of its most important leadership roles with a proven leader who brings an extensive track record of success to the position of vice president for administrative services. Keith Ickes, a longtime Colorado State financial administrator, was selected to oversee the university’s financial and administrative operations after a national search that produced several strong candidates.

"Keith brings strong experience in higher education to the role, along with extensive knowledge of our state’s complex financial situation and the critical challenges facing higher education in Colorado," said Colorado State President Larry Edward Penley. "Keith also possesses the strong character and long-term vision that are essential to the leadership of this institution."

Ickes joined Colorado State in 1988 as director of the Office of Institutional Research, which became the Office of Budgets and Institutional Analysis in 1991. In 2002, he added the title associate vice president of administrative services to his position as director of the Office of Budgets and Institutional Analysis. Ickes became interim vice president at the start of the school year, replacing Gerry Bomotti, who took a similar post at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

"I’m very excited about the opportunity," Ickes said. "We’re facing challenging times, but also very interesting and energizing times. I’m looking forward to helping lead this great university to even higher levels of success in the future."

As vice president for administrative services, Ickes will oversee the Office of Budgets and Institutional Analysis; Business and Financial Services; Central Receiving; Environmental Health Services; Facilities Management; Human Resource Services; Purchasing; University Parking Services; and the CSU Police.     

Immediate priorities for Ickes include focusing on service; in particular, training opportunities within the administrative services division and across campus. He is also moving quickly to appoint a small task force that will recommend improvements to division administrative computing systems that will have an immediate, positive impact on campus life. Over the next month, he will be evaluating division operations and making a determination about the organization of his office, how to structure reporting lines and how to proceed in finding new leadership at the division level.

"I believe Keith will bring a strong, customer-focused approach to his leadership of the division. He is a thoughtful and collaborative leader who will work well with other university leadership to assure the ongoing integrity of institutional operations and to support the academic strength of Colorado State University," Penley said.

Prior to joining Colorado State, Ickes held administrative positions at Cornell University, Indiana University and the State University of New York-Buffalo. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Baldwin-Wallace College, a master’s in philosophy from Indiana University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Colorado State.

-30-