Kerner named assistant vice chancellor for business services

Martha Kerner, administrator of the Division of Administrative Services in the Wisconsin Department of Administration, has been named the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s assistant vice chancellor for business services. She will begin her new duties Monday, April 16.

“Martha has the right blend of knowledge and experience for the assistant vice chancellor position,” says Darrell Bazzell, vice chancellor for administration. “Her thorough understanding of a wide range of business services will serve the campus well.”

Kerner, who will succeed Don Miner, has 25 years of experience in Wisconsin state government. She has held numerous senior leadership positions in the areas of internal business and administrative operations.

“It is an honor and privilege to have been selected for this position and be given the opportunity to serve a world-class research institution the caliber of UW–Madison,” Kerner says. “I look forward to joining a team like the Division of Business Services and providing high-quality, responsive services to the campus.”

At the Department of Administration, Kerner has been responsible for the agency’s budget and financial operations, human resources services, payroll/benefits, continuity of operations planning, risk management and safety functions. The provision of these services was extended to other state agencies, including the governor’s office and lieutenant governor’s office, after recent administrative consolidations.

She also has served as DOA’s budget director, with responsibility for managing preparation of annual operating budgets and biennial budgets as well as accounting operations and internal audit functions.

Kerner previously held numerous positions in the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and worked as a legislative aide. A certified public accountant, she has a bachelor’s degree in economics from UW-Whitewater and was a post-baccalaureate degree student in accounting at Edgewood College.

In her new position, Kerner will earn an annual salary of $150,000.

The assistant vice chancellor for business services leads the Division of Business Services, which provides a wide range of business services to the university’s schools, colleges, departments, faculty, staff and students. The division includes the departments of Accounting Services, Bursar, Internal Audit, Purchasing Services and Risk Management.

A 13-member search-and-screen committee — which included faculty, staff and students and was chaired by UW–Madison Budget Director Tim Norris — worked to narrow the field of candidates to five finalists.