Barnum Named Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations
1/16/2024 2:01:00 PM | General
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt announced on Tuesday that Laura Barnum has been hired as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations. It is a homecoming for Barnum who is not only a graduate of UB, but previously served several roles at the university.
"We are excited to bring back one of our own for this critical position on our executive team within our Athletics Department," Alnutt said. "Laura is a former UB student-athlete who began her career at UB in athletics. She transitioned to campus and served in many roles pertaining to budgeting, finance and planning. She will be a vital asset to our department in key internal roles, strategic planning and sport oversight. Her established knowledge and working relationships with various departments on campus and SUNY will be beneficial to our overall operations. We are so thrilled to welcome Laura back to the UB family."
Barnum served many roles in the Division of Athletics from 1996-2007. She began as the Director of Business Operations and worked her way up to Associate Athletic Director, Internal Operations/Senior Woman Administrator. She served as Interim Athletic Director in 2005.
In 2007, she moved across campus after accepting a position in UB's Division of Academic Affairs. She began as Senior Assistant Vice President for Resource Planning and Information Management before being promoted to Senior Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Budget.
In 2013, she began a five-year stint as Associate Vice President for Resource Planning in UB's Division of Finance and Administration.
From 2018-23, Barnum served as Vice President for Finance and Management at SUNY Buffalo State College.
Barnum began her career in the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant volleyball coach at Canisius from 1993-95 and at UB from 1996-97.
"UB Athletics has always had a special place in my heart and everyone knows I bleed blue and white, so I'm very thankful to Mark for the opportunity to return and serve on his executive leadership team," Barnum said. "As a former student-athlete, I understand firsthand the role college athletics plays in transforming lives and I am excited to have the opportunity to support our student-athletes, coaches and staff in developing leaders, winning championships and serving as a rallying point for the UB community!"
A four-year letterwinner on UB's volleyball team, Barnum earned her B.S. in exercise science with a sport management concentration. She completed an M.S. in sport administration at Canisius University in 1996, and later earned an M.B.A. from UB in 2000.
"We are excited to bring back one of our own for this critical position on our executive team within our Athletics Department," Alnutt said. "Laura is a former UB student-athlete who began her career at UB in athletics. She transitioned to campus and served in many roles pertaining to budgeting, finance and planning. She will be a vital asset to our department in key internal roles, strategic planning and sport oversight. Her established knowledge and working relationships with various departments on campus and SUNY will be beneficial to our overall operations. We are so thrilled to welcome Laura back to the UB family."
Barnum served many roles in the Division of Athletics from 1996-2007. She began as the Director of Business Operations and worked her way up to Associate Athletic Director, Internal Operations/Senior Woman Administrator. She served as Interim Athletic Director in 2005.
In 2007, she moved across campus after accepting a position in UB's Division of Academic Affairs. She began as Senior Assistant Vice President for Resource Planning and Information Management before being promoted to Senior Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Budget.
In 2013, she began a five-year stint as Associate Vice President for Resource Planning in UB's Division of Finance and Administration.
From 2018-23, Barnum served as Vice President for Finance and Management at SUNY Buffalo State College.
Barnum began her career in the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant volleyball coach at Canisius from 1993-95 and at UB from 1996-97.
"UB Athletics has always had a special place in my heart and everyone knows I bleed blue and white, so I'm very thankful to Mark for the opportunity to return and serve on his executive leadership team," Barnum said. "As a former student-athlete, I understand firsthand the role college athletics plays in transforming lives and I am excited to have the opportunity to support our student-athletes, coaches and staff in developing leaders, winning championships and serving as a rallying point for the UB community!"
A four-year letterwinner on UB's volleyball team, Barnum earned her B.S. in exercise science with a sport management concentration. She completed an M.S. in sport administration at Canisius University in 1996, and later earned an M.B.A. from UB in 2000.
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