DFA Cabinet

Mary Lou D. Ortiz

Mary Lou D. Ortiz

Chief Financial Officer
Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration

Mary Lou D. Ortiz is the chief financial officer and vice chancellor for Finance and Administration. She manages a large, $6.7 billion operating budget and a $2.3 billion capital expenditure budget, ensuring responsible allocation of public and private financial resources to meet objectives including the health enterprise (health sciences and medical center).

Mary Lou has broad experience leading administrative and financial operations at public and private research universities, strengthening those operations to best support the needs of each institution’s core programs. She previously served as associate vice president for budget and university budget officer at Pennsylvania State University, serving as a senior member of the university’s financial leadership team and responsible for overseeing the University Budget Office and for the development and assessment of the university’s budget and resource allocation policies. She implemented the university’s annual operating budget and had budgetary responsibility for Penn State’s complex $7.7 billion organization with 24 campuses, leading discussions about maintaining affordability for Penn State students while continuing to innovate.

Prior to joining Penn State, Mary Lou served as vice chancellor for finance and administration at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, providing financial and operational leadership to the university’s flagship campus and overseeing $1.7 billion in total resources. She is the former director for finance and resource administration of University Services for Princeton University and former director of planning and financial administration at Columbia University’s student health services. In addition to her higher education experience, she was the senior director of budget and financial planning at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global humanitarian aid, relief and development nongovernmental organization, where she oversaw the annual operating budget for the IRC’s 26 overseas offices and affiliates and 32 domestic operations.

Mary Lou earned her MBA, M.P.A., and B.A. from Columbia University, and is a candidate for the doctorate in education in Penn State’s higher education program.


Rick Coulon

Richard L. Coulon


Senior Associate Vice Chancellor,
DFA Campus Operations

Rick Coulon is the senior associate vice chancellor for DFA Campus Operations. He has over 20 years of experience at UC Irvine overseeing a diverse portfolio which has included Design and Construction Services, Capital Planning and Space Management, Campus Physical and Environmental Planning, Real Estate Services, Risk Management, Accounting, and UCPath. He served as UC Irvine’s UCPath committee chair which led to the successful implementation—the largest administrative system implementation in UC’s history. He also served as UC Irvine’s director of Materiel and Risk Management which included central purchasing, equipment management, business contracts, interior design, and risk management. Rick is a skilled leader and is experienced in procurement policy and negotiating complex agreements. He is a certified mediator, serves on numerous committees, and is the director of UC Irvine’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Rick received his B.S. from Cal State Long Beach and later earned the professional designation of Associate in Risk Management (ARM) from the Insurance Institute of America. Rick graduated from the UC Coro Systemwide Leadership Collaborative in 2018.

Brian Pratt

Brian Pratt


Associate Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect,
Design & Construction Services

Brian Pratt oversees major academic building projects, research facilities, and housing projects. He leads design and construction's efforts for the campus, delivering highly complex projects via design build. Brian has served in the private and public sectors, formerly leading the Orange County Architecture Discipline as a principal with AECOM. Brian has recently led a variety of project types, including laboratories, sports facilities, retail, cultural, and civic, both new and renovation. Past clients include the Arizona Cardinals, University of Arkansas, Pomona College, UC San Diego, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Riverside. Brian’s work has been recognized with several awards and recognitions and many projects have achieved various levels of LEED certification.

Mike Bathke

Michael P. Bathke


Director,
Internal Audit Services

Mike Bathke joined UC Irvine Internal Audit Services in 2003 and has been the director since 2012. Mike leads a staff of professional auditors with operations at the campus and medical center. Mike is responsible for developing and implementing an effective internal audit function that provides independent and objective assurance, consulting, and investigation services designed to add value and improved UC Irvine and UCI Health operations.

Prior to joining UC Irvine, Mike was an internal audit and accounting/financial consultant at Jefferson Wells, an international professional services organization.

Mike graduated from Cal State LA with a B.S. in accounting. He is a certified internal auditor, certified fraud examiner, and certified healthcare internal audit professional.

Snehal Bhatt

Snehal Bhatt


Chief Procurement Officer,
Procurement Services

Snehal Bhatt leads campus procurement operations which includes strategic sourcing, purchasing, business contracts, equipment management, and the PALCard program. He serves on the board of the Pacific Region of the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP) and is a member of the National Procurement Leadership Forum.

Before joining UC Irvine, Snehal held multiple leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies and startups for over 35 years in the automotive, renewables, and industrial sectors. He has led global teams in North America, Europe, and Asia, generating more than $160 million in savings through global supply chain and operational excellence initiatives. Snehal has international experience and holds a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering. He is a Lean Six Sigma master black belt.

Grace Crvarich

Grace Crvarich


Assistant Vice Chancellor,
DFA Program Development & Execution

Grace Crvarich joined UC Irvine in October 2019 as the assistant vice chancellor for Process Improvement. Currently she oversees the DFA Program Development & Execution (DFA PDE) unit which provides project management support for DFA initiatives and projects, as well as for certain campuswide projects. Grace has over 25 years of experience in higher education and comes to us from Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine (KPSOM) where she served as their founding senior director of finance. During her time there, she led the planning of a 10-year, $1B business case that included accreditation, staffing, and financial plans for KPSOM.

Grace’s experience includes 15 years at UC San Francisco in the areas of facilities management, capital projects, and the School of Medicine Dean’s Office. At UC Berkeley she served as the assistant vice chancellor and chief operating officer for the Division of Real Estate, where she managed multiple strategic initiatives to improve business efficiency, implement cost-savings, and simplify processes. Grace earned a B.S. in business administration from Cal State East Bay and an MBA from the University of San Francisco.

Ronald Fleming

Ronald Fleming


Executive Director,
Transportation and Distribution Services

Ron Fleming has more than 25 years of experience in driving sustainable initiatives, capital improvement projects, auxiliary programs, and transportation demand management systems. His leadership has led to more than 40 awards for his department, including honors from the State of California and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ron’s contributions have earned him Parking Professional of the Year (2011) from the International Parking Institute and Professional of the Year (2012) from the California Public Parking Association. He also serves as a council member for the Southern California chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and as an accreditation site team member for NASPAA. He holds a B.A. from UC Irvine and an MPA from the University of La Verne.

Katherine Gallardo

Katherine Gallardo


Assistant Vice Chancellor,
Budget Office

Katherine Gallardo is the assistant vice chancellor of the Budget Office and has over 30 years of experience in higher education. Her experience includes serving in financial and personnel management roles in a wide variety of academic disciplines and units. Katherine joined the Budget Office in 2014. She coordinates campus financial planning and budget efforts, collaborates with UC Office of the President, advises leadership on academic resource matters, and oversees financial forecasting, trend analysis, modeling, and development of allocation. Katherine has a B.S. in business administration with a focus on finance from Boston University and an MBA from UC Irvine.

Chief Liz Griffin

Elizabeth (Liz) Griffin


Chief of Police,
UC Irvine Police Department

Chief Griffin joined UC Irvine in May 2019 and has over 30 years of law enforcement experience. She started her career with the Long Beach Police Department in 1992 and moved up the ranks until she ultimately became a police commander. At Long Beach, she was involved with the LBPD Historical Society, managed and participated and in many citywide community engagement events, and was the department liaison to the LGBTQA+ community. As UC Irvine’s Chief of Police, she manages an operation that includes patrol for both the campus and the UCI Medical Center, administration, investigations, dispatch and a tiered response to public safety on campus and at the UCI Medical Center. She is a graduate of LAPD West Point Leadership Program, UC CORO Systemwide Leadership Collaborative and the FBI National Academy. She has completed the UC Irvine Inclusive Excellence Certificate Program. Chief Griffin earned a B.S. in criminal justice at Cal State Fullerton and a M.S. in emergency services administration at Cal State Long Beach.

Matt Gudorf

Matt Gudorf


Assistant Vice Chancellor,
Facilities Management

Matt Gudorf was appointed assistant vice chancellor of Facilities Management effective October 2, 2023. Matt oversees the day-to-day operations of Facilities Management and assures the team of trades, engineers, and professional staff continue to advance UC Irvine's brilliant future by creating a physical environment allowing our students, faculty, and staff to thrive. Prior to his appointment as assistant vice chancellor, Matt led UC Irvine’s Energy, Engineering, and Inspection team focusing efforts on energy efficiency upgrades, utility and infrastructure retrofits, and project development. Prior to joining UC Irvine, Matt worked for various companies in the fields of electrical transmission and distribution, ultra-high voltage substation design, and underground wet utility installations throughout the mid-west and southern California. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and received a B.S. in electrical engineering with an emphasis on high voltage systems.

Abbey Jeliazkova

Abbey Jeliazkova


Strategy & Development Specialist,
DFA Program Development & Execution

Abbey Jeliazkova is a dynamic and collaborative professional experienced in project management, training, coaching, and communications. In her role, she is focused on organizational effectiveness and strategic planning initiatives which include divisional process improvement efforts, divisional strategic plans, and change management efforts. Prior to UC Irvine, Abbey worked for UC Riverside where she managed the implementation of systems, processes, and training programs for increasing recruitment, engagement, and organizational effectiveness. Abbey received a B.A. in communications and business administration from the American University in Bulgaria and an MBA from UC Riverside. She is a PMP certified project manager, Prosci certified change practitioner, and ICF certified coach.

Pejman Khoshkhoo

Pejman Khoshkhoo


Director, Information Technology Services,
DFA Program Development & Execution

Pejman Khoshkhoo is responsible for DFA’s technology governance and strategy, managing the IT project roadmap and portfolio, and overseeing select divisional strategic IT implementation projects with the support of his team of professional project managers. He provides trusted technology consulting and business partnerships to DFA departments, ensuring optimal investment of resources through collaboration and thought leadership. Before joining UC Irvine, Pejman held senior roles in application services, shaping enterprise application strategy. As director of advisory at KPMG, he managed large-scale technology projects, including ERP implementations and the Obamacare portal for Nevada. Pejman earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley and holds ITIL3 and PMP certifications.

Janet Mason

Janet C. Mason


Assistant Vice Chancellor,
Capital Planning & Space Management

Janet Mason is responsible for overseeing the planning of new building projects and major renovations, administering the Small Capital Improvement Program, developing project approval documents for state and regental review, developing the ten-year Capital Financial Plan, supporting campus decision-making regarding the use of on- and off-campus space, and maintaining UC Irvine’s facilities inventory database. Janet has been with UC Irvine for over 40 years, beginning in Public Policy Research Organization and moving to the planning office several years later. During her tenure, Janet has been in involved in planning most of the new facilities that have been constructed on campus since the mid-1980s. Janet graduated from Adelphi University with a B.A. in experimental psychology.

Barry Oh

Barry Oh


Assistant Vice Chancellor
and Campus Controller,

Accounting & Fiscal Services

Barry Oh is the assistant vice chancellor of Accounting & Fiscal Services and campus controller. In this role, he leads an organization of more than 100 financial professionals and support staff and oversees many of UC Irvine’s central financial functions. Working closely with campus business offices, Barry and his team ensure the integrity of UC Irvine's financial reporting, enable effective and efficient campus financial processes and controls, and champion compliance with policies, laws, and regulations. Prior to joining UC Irvine he worked in various industries, including six years in the Big 4 accounting firms performing audit and consulting services. He also held various leadership positions in accounting and finance, serving as director of accounting at The Boeing Company, controller at both Curtiss Wright and HID Global, and director of financial services at Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. Barry earned his MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business and is an alumnus of UCLA where he graduated with a B.A. in economics.

Venee Raduziner

Venee Raduziner


Director, Sr. HR Business Partner,
DFA Human Resources

Venee Raduziner is the director and senior human resources business partner (HRBP) for the Division of Finance and Administration. In her role, she provides guidance, consultation, thought partnership, and support across all levels of the division to positively influence people decisions and continuously enhance employee engagement and high-performance results. Prior to joining UC Irvine in early 2020, Venee held multiple HR leadership roles for over 25 years in a variety of industries such as Southern California Edison, Los Angeles Times, and the Aaron Brothers division of Michaels stores. Venee earned her B.A. and certificate in Human Performance Improvement (HPI) from Chapman University. In addition, she completed her HR certificate program at the University of Phoenix and is certified in Prosci change management.

Shaina Sims

Shaina Sims


Senior Manager of Communications
and Strategic Initiatives,
DFA Program Development & Execution

Shaina Sims is a driven communications professional with a strong background in content creation, training, facilitation, and employee development. In her current role, she leads communication efforts for the division and spearheads various strategic initiatives, guided by the CFO and vice chancellor. She oversees the divisional digital and print content strategy and implementation, encompassing websites, newsletters, internal communications, events, training initiatives, and strategic projects. Shaina’s approach is innovative, collaborative, and focused on continuous process improvement. Prior to UC Irvine, she worked for California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) where she served as the senior manager of training and development. In this capacity, she crafted and managed training curriculum for over 200 locations, offering support to approximately 150 managers annually. Shaina received a B.A. in communications from CSU Bakersfield and is certified in Prosci change management.

John Sterritt

John Sterritt


Executive Director,
Environmental Health & Safety

John Sterritt is the executive director of EHS at UC Irvine. With over 20 years of experience, he has taught safety, environmental compliance, and risk management at UCLA, UC San Diego, and CSU Dominguez Hills. Previously, he was director of EH&S, Risk and Emergency Services at UC Santa Barbara and directed environmental health and safety at Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), overseeing safety, compliance, and emergency management. He has also held roles at LA County, The Boeing Company, Con Agra Grocery Products Company, and the Coca-Cola Company. He has a B.S. in occupational safety from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in industrial hygiene from USC, and an MBA from Pepperdine University.