(MURRAY, Ky.) – Murray State University has announced the appointment of Dr. Laura Foltz as Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services, pending approval by the university’s Board of Regents. Foltz is set to begin her new role on Jan. 26, following the conclusion of a national search.
The appointment brings three decades of fiscal management and strategic planning expertise to the western Kentucky institution. Foltz currently serves as Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration for Strategic Initiatives at the University of Tennessee at Martin, a position she has held since 2013.
In her current role at UTM, Foltz has overseen campuswide fiscal initiatives and enterprise modernization efforts. Her portfolio has included directing the university’s master planning process, managing auxiliary service contracts, and leading enterprise resource planning implementation. She has also served as a key liaison on policy compliance, accreditation matters, and strategic analyses for tuition restructuring and capital projects.
Before joining UTM, Foltz built her career at East Carolina University, where she progressed through multiple leadership positions, including Assistant Director of Systems Coordination and Systems Accountant.
Foltz’s professional credentials include service as a financial reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, participation in the University of Tennessee Leadership Institute and the Next Generation Chief Business Officer’s Institute, and certification with the National Incident Management System.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University, an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas, and is a Certified Management Accountant.
“I am honored to serve as the Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services,” Foltz said in a statement. “As a first-generation college graduate, I am passionate about how education changes lives and look forward to joining the Racer Family and working alongside the dedicated faculty and staff to steward the University’s resources in support of students and a strong future for Murray State University.”
Murray State President Dr. Ron Patterson praised the selection, noting Foltz’s diverse leadership experience. “Dr. Foltz brings excellent leadership experience and knowledge in multiple facets, and will serve well in helping advance Murray State University,” Patterson said. He also thanked the executive search committee and Greenwood Asher & Associates for their work on the search process.
The appointment is subject to formal approval by the Murray State University Board of Regents.
