Kurt Schnier, Ph.D., was announced as Vice Chancellor for Planning & Budget and Chief Financial Officer on Nov. 30, 2023. He has served as Interim Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer since May 3, 2021.
Dr. Schnier has provided oversight to the Division of Finance and Administration's functional areas since October 2020, helping UC Merced establish budget priorities and protocols that have been critical amid financial challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Schnier is a Professor of Economics, a former Department Chair and Senate Chair, and served as the Associate Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for Academic Planning and Budget.
In his work for academic planning, Dr. Schnier developed a driver-based model for campus growth and a simulation model for campus-wide finances based on impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. He also has worked on revisions to the graduate student incentive model and to the academic budget planning process for the 2022-23 fiscal year. In 2017-19 he worked on a team that developed the academic budget planning process.
He has served as chair and vice chair of the Faculty Senate, and co-chaired the Budget Working Group, which focused on analysis and revisions of campus budget policy. He also served on the Organizational Efficiency and Sustainability Working Group and the Committee on Academic Planning and Resource Allocation.
Dr. Schnier, who grew up in Sonoma, Calif., joined the UC Merced faculty in January 2014. He previously served as a faculty member at the University of Rhode Island and at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
He earned a B.A. in Management Sciences from UC San Diego, an M.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Arizona.
About the Office
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning & Budget and Chief Financial Officer provides leadership support for campus planning and decision-making to help advance UC Merced's educational mission and effectiveness. In our day-to-day work, we collaborate with campus and community stakeholders to support UC Merced's mission of teaching, research and public service.
- Provide a coordinated process for the development of campus operating and capital budgets.
- Develop financial models and analytical support that provide information necessary for campus planning.
- Develop and implement campus budget policy and budgetary performance measures.
- Manage UC Merced's resources prudently.
Contact Information
University of California, Merced
5200 N. Lake Road
Merced, CA 95343
