PHILADELPHIA -- Michael E. Harris has been appointed associate vice president in the Office of the Executive Vice President at the University of Pennsylvania.  He assumes his new position Feb. 1.

Harris will work closely with the executive vice president in overseeing all EVP administrative activities, with the primary responsibility for developing and implementing the office's operational and strategic planning.  He has experience in a number of operational areas, including finance, budget, risk management, human resources, accounting, facilities and information technology.  

Most recently, Harris served as the chief financial officer for the School District of Philadelphia, where he managed a $1.8 billion annual budget and played a key role in stabilizing the district's finances, having created a five-year strategic and operational plan to guide financial and programmatic initiatives.

Harris also reorganized the operations of 125 financial department employees across eight departments, including creating a new Office of Management and Budget from two separate departments and organizational cultures and implementing the largest tax-exempt bond financing in school district history as the first leg of a proposed five-year, $1.5 billion capital improvement program.  In addition, he initiated the first comprehensive review of benefits management.

Previously, Harris served as budget director for the City of Chicago, where he held a number of roles during his 14-year tenure.  

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in political science and public administration from Illinois State University.