Stephen Beal, president of California College of the Arts (CCA), announced today the appointment of Laura Hazlett, PhD, as senior vice president (SVP) for finance and administration. Hazlett is currently chief financial officer (CFO) for Athletics at the University of California, Berkeley, a position she has held since 2009.

As SVP for finance at CCA, Hazlett will oversee the areas of financial services, operations, and human resources. Reporting to the president, Hazlett will also act as liaison between the administration and the Board of Trustees, particularly with the Finance/Audit and Investment committees. She will begin at CCA in June, taking over from current SVP for Finance and Administration David Kirshman, who is retiring after 28 years of service to the college.

Long Period of Financial Stability

CCA has grown tremendously in the last 10 years, adding several new academic programs and increasing enrollment by more than 500 students. President Beal commented, "We have enjoyed a long period of financial stability, even during very challenging economic times that have profoundly affected higher education in this country. I am confident that Laura is the right person to manage CCA’s resources in a way that promotes steady and secure growth aligned with the institution’s core mission and values. She impressed us with her strong technical knowledge of financial operations, commitment to transparency and accountability, strategic leadership on major facilities projects, and her experience building relationships among various communities. I look forward to working with Laura in the coming years.”

“I feel fortunate to join President Beal and his team at CCA,” stated Hazlett. “I am impressed by the college’s commitment to excellence and innovation throughout the academics and administration. There is no doubt that CCA faces exciting opportunities in the wake of significant changes in higher education. I look forward to working with the CCA Board of Trustees, staff, and faculty to continue the good work of David Kirshman and help advance the college’s important mission.”

About Laura Hazlett

Among her many accomplishments as CFO of Cal Athletics was serving as the financial point person for implementing the capital project plan, which included the $300 million renovation of Memorial Stadium and the construction of the $142 million Simpson Center for Student Athlete High Performance. Prior to working at Cal, Laura held a senior management position in the Athletics Department at the University of Oregon. While there she developed the financial plan for the construction of the $200 million Matthew Knight Arena. In addition to her administrative work in higher education, Laura served as assistant professor of Finance at Purdue University from 2004 to 2007. She holds a PhD in management and an MS in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a BS in economics and BA in mathematics from Arizona State University. Laura lives with her husband, Brett, and five-year-old daughter, Olivia, in Berkeley.

About California College of the Arts

Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) offers 22 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs in the areas of fine arts, architecture, design, and writing. The college offers BFA, MFA, BArch, MArch, MBA, MAAD, and MAUDL degrees. It has campuses in San Francisco and Oakland, and currently enrolls 1,950 full-time students. CCA students are encouraged to work in an interdisciplinary manner, undertaking projects and collaborations with students in other majors and engaging with outside communities.

Noted alumni include the artists Nathan Oliveira, Jules de Balincourt, Robert Arneson, Robert Bechtle, Viola Frey, and Peter Voulkos; the Oscar-winning filmmaker Audrey Marrs; the illustrator Tomie de Paola; the conceptual artists Harrell Fletcher, David Ireland, and Dennis Oppenheim; and the designers Lucille Tenazas, Michael Vanderbyl, and Gary Hutton.