On June 18, 2025, the Administration & Finance (A&F) team gathered for a vibrant and informative Town Hall that highlighted the division’s resilience, innovation, and commitment to service. Hosted by Kelly Gregory, the event brought together voices from across the system to reflect on recent achievements, share critical updates, and chart the path forward.
Federal Funding in Focus
Directors Monica Jackson and Deirdre Delaney delivered a timely update on the evolving federal grants landscape. Despite a turbulent start to 2025—with delays, new justification requirements, and increased scrutiny, UMass responded with agility. A revamped draw request strategy helped reduce payment delays, and credit ratings remained stable thanks to strong financial oversight.
Accessibility Takes Center Stage
Digital accessibility was a key theme, with Claudia Cortes outlining the University’s commitment to ADA compliance. With a compliance deadline of April 2026, A&F is actively reviewing websites, third-party tools, procurement processes, and employee training to ensure equitable access for all.
By the Numbers: Departmental Highlights
Eight departments shared impressive metrics and milestones, presented by some of A&F’s best and brightest:
Budget Office – Presented by Sara MacKenzie
- Managing a $4.3B budget, producing over 1,200 pages of reports, and tracking $2.1B in capital project spending.
Employee Services Team (Payroll & Travel/Expense) – Presented by Caitrin Merrill & Erika O’Malley
- Processed 42K+ W-2s, $2B in gross pay, and 76K+ expense reports, with 25K active employees supported.
Application Specialists (EST) – Presented by Elijah Collins
- Maintains 200+ PeopleSoft programs, supports $168M/month in payroll, and manages 150+ system interfaces.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) – Presented by Samantha Wallace
- Tracks 31 systemwide risks and 133 mitigation strategies, with national recognition for the MATRX tool.
Human Resources – Presented by Diane Pelletier
- Processed 18.5K+ HR transactions and managed 40 union contracts across all campuses.
Innovation & Operational Services – Presented by Jacob Sturtz & Andrew Buroni
- Delivered 12 roadmap projects and supported 13 enterprise applications with 1,751 cases closed in FY25.
Treasury & Operations – Presented by Ben Johnson & Molly Lynch
- Managed $141M in investment income, 163K credit card transactions/month, and filed $10.5M in energy credits.
Unified Procurement Services Team (UPST) – Presented by Jazemine Belkin, Ashley Tejada & Evanthia Tully
- Oversaw $1.07B in spend, processed 275K invoices, and created 2,000+ contracts annually.
Evolving for Impact: The Access Team
David Nero introduced the new A&F Support Services Access Team, launching July 1. This team will centralize customer service across A&F, offering a single point of contact and a new Customer Service Rotation Program for staff development. It’s a bold step toward a more unified, responsive A&F.
Roadmap 6.5: Strategic Vision Ahead
Amy Ryan shared updates on the A&F Roadmap, which continues to guide strategic initiatives across the division. With 21 projects on track for completion by the end of FY25, Roadmap 6.5 will build on this momentum with a renewed focus on leadership, shared services, and ERP strategy.
Closing Reflections
Senior Vice President Lisa Calise closed the event with gratitude and encouragement, highlighting the collective achievements of the A&F team and the importance of staying connected to our mission.
Photos from the Town Hall
Evanthia Tully
Albion Osmani
A&F Town Hall attendees