UPDATED: Aug. 21, 2018 at 4:42 p.m.

Before you start your first classes of the fall semester, get to know who’s making important decisions at the university affecting the college experience for all Syracuse University community members. Here are 10 key decision makers at SU:

1. Kent Syverud

Position: Chancellor and President

Start of role: January 2014

Salary: $1,038,037, according to SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: As SU’s 12th chancellor, Syverud is the face of the university and has launched major initiatives related to SU’s future, including the Academic Strategic Plan and the Campus Framework, a 20-year infrastructure development project. Syverud came to the university after serving as dean of the law school at Washington University in St. Louis.

2. Michele Wheatly

Position: Vice Chancellor and Provost

Start of Role: May 2016

Salary: $356,544, according to SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: Wheatly, as vice chancellor for academic affairs, has spearheaded the implementation and funding of the Academic Strategic Plan and the Campus Framework. As provost, Wheatly oversees issues related to the university’s research and academic success, including SU’s research goals, the first-year experience and faculty tenure and promotions. She previously served as West Virginia University’s provost, a position she held from 2009 to 2014.

3. Steven Barnes

Position: Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Start of Role: May 2015

Salary: Undisclosed

Description: Barnes is the chairman of the Board of Trustees, which oversees the activities of SU and influences many of the university’s decision-making processes. The Board of Trustees is made up of mostly SU alumni. Barnes is a managing director at Bain Capital, a global alternative investment firm based in Boston.

4. Pete Sala

Position: Vice president and chief facilities officer

Start of Role: July 2015

Salary: Undisclosed in SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: Sala, who has served as the managing director of the Carrier Dome since 2010, oversees all operations of SU athletic facilities. He also oversees Campus Planning, Design and Construction, Business and Facilities Maintenance Services, Physical Plant, Housing and Food Services Maintenance and Energy Systems and Sustainability Management.

5. Amir Rahnamay-Azar

Position: Chief Financial Officer

Start of Role: February 2017

Salary: Undisclosed in SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: Rahnamay-Azar is in charge of SU’s finances. Rahnamay-Azar previously worked at Carnegie Mellon University as chief financial officer.

6. Dolan Evanovich  

Position: Senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience

Start of Role: December 2016  

Salary: Undisclosed in SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: As the senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience, Evanovich coordinates all aspects of student life, from freshmen orientation to commencement. His job also involves retaining students. Prior to working at SU, Evanovich served as Ohio State University’s vice president for strategic enrollment planning.

7. John Wildhack

Position: Director of Athletics

Start of Role: Summer 2016  

Salary: Undisclosed in SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: Wildhack leads the SU Athletics department. He has overseen “multiple strategic initiatives” that include securing funding for enhancements to the Dome. Wildhack, a Class of 1980 SU graduate, came to the university from ESPN after a 36-year career at the sports media giant.

8. Mike Haynie

Position: Vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families  

Start of Role: 2011

Salary: $478,456, according to SU’s 990 form for Fiscal Year 2016

Description: As vice chancellor of veterans and military affairs, Haynie leads the university in its veteran and military-connected programs, partnerships and research. Haynie served for 14 years in the United States Air Force and joined the faculty at SU in 2006. SU began construction last fall of the National Veterans Resource Complex, a $62.5 million project that will centralize veterans services at a hub on Waverly Avenue.

9. Ghufran Salih

Position: Student Association president

First elected: April 2018

Salary: Student

Description: As the Student Association’s president, Salih serves as the undergraduate student representative on many administrative committees and is in charge of SU’s student government. Salih’s vice president is Kyle Rosenblum. 

10. Jack Wilson

Position: Graduate Student Organization president

First elected: April 2017

Salary: Student

Description: Jack Wilson is the leader of the Graduate Student Organization, the student governing body for graduate students at SU. As president, Wilson oversees the GSO’s budget and operations and represents the graduate student body to university administration and the Board of Trustees.

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, John Wildhack’s career prior to being employed at SU was inaccurate. Before working at SU, Wildhack was employed at ESPN. The Daily Orange regrets this error. 

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Published on August 21, 2018 at 1:00 pm

Contact Casey: casey@dailyorange.com | @caseydarnell_