The UAB Office of the Provost is pleased to welcome Leigh Anne Robertson, MBA, CPA, as the executive director for administration and finance, effective July 21.

Robertson has more than 30 years of administrative and financial experience and joined UAB in 2014. Most recently, she served as executive director of administrative operations for the UAB School of Public Health, under the leadership of Dean Erwin.

As executive director of administrative operations, Leigh Anne oversaw all areas of finance, operations, and compliance, managing an annual research and operating budget of more than $75 million. She has oversight for budgeting, reporting, human resources, facilities, communications, compliance, and risk management to meet the strategic goals of the school and university.

In 2019, Leigh Anne led a finance team to achieving an operational surplus for the School of Public Health. Since then, the school has produced operational surpluses every year and built sufficient reserves to extend key faculty hiring packages and update the physical building through a planned Board level renovation project and a series of smaller classroom and common area renovations.

Leigh Anne has served on several committees across campus, including the UAB Budget Advisory Committee, the Search Committee for UAB Vice President of Administration, the UAB Indirect Cost Recovery Sharing Task Force, and the University-Wide Digital Strategy Committee.

Leigh Anne is an instructor in the UAB Department of Health Policy & Organization where she develops courses and delivers instruction for healthcare finance, budgeting, and resource management courses. She is pursuing her doctoral degree in health services administration.

As executive director for administration and finance, Leigh Anne will play a key role in the strategic vision of the Office of the Provost by advancing academic excellence and supporting student experience.

Leigh Anne will work closely with academic units across campus to ensure they have the resources and support needed to advance their goals and improve student success. Leigh Anne will lead budgeting, financial planning, and administrative operations for the Office of the Provost.

“Leigh Anne is a valuable addition to the UAB Office of the Provost team, and we are delighted to have her on board,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., senior vice president for academic affairs and Provost. “I look forward to the impact that Leigh Anne will make across the Office of the Provost as well as our entire campus community.”