The University of California Regents today (Mar. 15) appointed Katherine N. Lapp, former executive director and CEO for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as UC’s executive vice president for business operations. The position is newly established as part of a management restructuring of the systemwide Office of the President.

“The appointment of Katie Lapp is a tremendous coup for the University, and bodes well for our ongoing efforts to improve the coordination, delivery and quality of the many administrative functions that support our world-class academic programs,” said UC president Robert C. Dynes. “Her consensus-building leadership, breadth of experience and administrative skills will help us continue to make UC’s business operations more efficient, more strategic and more effective in fulfilling our mission to shape the University’s and California’s future.”

Lapp, who led the MTA for five years until stepping down at the end of 2006, was responsible for the operations, finances and long-term business strategies of North America’s largest regional transportation network, which encompasses 68,000 employees, a $10 billion annual budget, a $21 billion five-year capital program and an annual ridership of more than 2.37 billion.

While at MTA, Lapp revamped the agency’s budget process to incorporate a new model for four-year financial planning and advanced budget review. She also implemented new corporate governance measures to bring MTA in line with Sarbanes/Oxley requirements, created a senior administrative unit to ensure compliance with agency ethics and regulatory policies, and guided the agency’s business performance indicators and operating goals.

Prior to joining MTA, Lapp had a distinguished legal career, serving as New York state director of criminal justice and commissioner of the criminal justice services department from 1997-2001, Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s criminal justice coordinator from 1994-97, and chief of staff and special counsel to the deputy mayor for public safety for Mayor David Dinkins from 1990-93.

“I am honored by the confidence that President Dynes and the Regents have entrusted in me. I look forward to embarking on this new and important step in my career as well as the broader potential that the University of California embodies for our society,” said Lapp. “Working together with the excellent staff in Oakland and on the campuses and labs, my priorities will be to search out and lead the University into new opportunities of effectiveness and efficiency that support and enhance the University’s reputation as a world-class institution.”

The new executive vice president will be responsible for leading improvements in the effectiveness and accountability of the University’s many administrative support operations. She will have specific leadership, quality control and coordination responsibilities in such key areas as facility construction and maintenance, real estate management, human resource administration, information technology support, and procurement. Lapp will also contribute to administrative oversight for the University’s compliance and audit activities, which recently have been enhanced by the Board of Regents.

Lapp will receive an annual salary of $400,000, along with the following additional items per University policy:

Standard health, pension and senior management benefits, including senior manager life insurance, executive business travel insurance, executive salary continuation for disability, and standard sick leave and vacation accrual; A 5% annual contribution to the Senior Management Supplemental Benefit Program ($11,250); An automobile allowance of $8,916 per year; Use of administrative fund for official entertainment and other purposes permitted by University policy; Reimbursement of moving expenses and movement of household goods; Participation in the Mortgage Origination Loan Program, available to be exercised within 24 months from date of employment; A relocation allowance of $90,000 to be paid installments over three years (50%, 30% and 20%, respectively) to assist with the higher cost of housing and other expenses associated with the relocation to Oakland.

Lapp will also receive as exceptions to policy:

Reimbursement of reasonable costs associated with temporary accommodations not to exceed $25,000 for a period of six months from date of employment; Reimbursement of up to two round trip coach class airfares between New York and the Bay Area before commencement of employment to assist with house hunting, and up to four similar trips during the first year of employment to complete the sale or other arrangements necessary to take care of the current home in New York.

Lapp was selected after a national search process that reviewed over 150 prospective candidates. An outside consulting firm eventually identified 17 interested and qualified candidates. After review by the UC search committee, three candidates were interviewed and the selection of Lapp was made.

The search committee included regents Richard Blum , Joanne Kozberg Gerald Parsky and Norman Pattiz, president Robert Dynes, Berkeley Lab director Steve Chu, executive vice president for academic affairs Rory Hume, faculty senate chair John Oakley and general counsel Charles Robinson .

Lapp received her B.A. in history from Fairfield University and her law degree from Hofstra University.

A copy of Lapp's resume is available at:
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2007/lapp_resume.pdf

About the University of California: The UC system includes 10 campuses, five medical centers and programs across the state. It is also involved in managing three national laboratories for the U.S. Department of Energy. The UC community encompasses 209,000 students, 170,000 employees, 45,000 retirees, and 1.4 million alumni living and working around the world.

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