John Arnold

Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Arnold, John

John Arnold serves as the senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer. In this role as the University’s senior business and financial officer, his responsibilities include overseeing Arizona Public Media; budget and financial planning; campus store (bookstore); facility services – GIS, space management, planning/design/construction, facilities management, and utilities; financial services – bursar, catcard, purchasing, contracting, auditing, treasury, accounts payable, and payroll; parking & transportation; sustainability, and student unions.

Prior to his current role, Arnold served as the Arizona Board of Regents executive director, guiding strategic goals to increase educational access and attainment while advancing Arizona’s public university system to serve students and impact Arizona’s economy. He joined the board office in March of 2015 as vice president of business management and financial affairs, developing financial policies and procedures for the university enterprise, addressing capital development and state budget requests, and coordinating system-wide analysis of complex financial issues.

With more than 20 years serving the state of Arizona, Arnold brings significant public service experience and a deep commitment to higher education to the position. He has an exceptional background in financial affairs and a proven track record of leadership, serving as Gov. Jan Brewer’s state budget director where he was instrumental in providing fiscal direction and solutions for the state during the Great Recession as well as implementing the budget and advising the governor on all related matters.

Throughout his career, he has worked with leaders in education from K-12 to college. As director of the Arizona School Facilities Board, he managed programs for new school construction, building renewals, and energy savings.

Arnold is married with five children. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master’s degrees in accounting and public administration from Brigham Young University.