Danville – Averett University has named Aaron D. Howell vice president for business and finance after an extensive nationwide search.

Howell currently is assistant vice president and controller at Oregon State University , a research-intensive university with over 15,000 employees and an all-funds budget of nearly $1 billion. OSU is Oregon’s largest university, with more than 30,000 students.

Howell has been OSU’s assistant vice president and controller for nearly 8 years, and he brings almost 20 years of experience in higher education administration to Averett. He has extensive experience not only in finance and internal controls, but also in the areas of strategic planning and budgeting, treasury and debt management, campus planning and facilities, and human resources and information technology.

“Aaron Howell possesses all of the important qualities we were seeking in our new Vice President for Business and Finance,” said Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks. “He is a strong believer in fostering collaborative and open discussions and decision-making by sharing information and by engaging the campus community in the process. He is also known as an accessible, relaxed and approachable leader with whom faculty, staff, students, community members and others feel comfortable seeking information and assistance.”

“Averett University is clearly an up-and-coming gem in private higher education,” said Mr. Howell. “It’s exciting to see that although Averett has already made substantial progress toward becoming a premier private university in the Southeast, it has no intentions of resting on its laurels. I am honored and thrilled to be joining Averett at this juncture in its long and distinguished history.”

Howell holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and an MBA from Oregon State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Purchasing Manager and a Certified Public Procurement Officer. He has also earned certification as a trained mediator from the Oregon Department of Justice, and he is a certified instructor with the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing.

Howell has been an active presenter at numerous important conferences, and he has been named the 2005 OSU OPA Boss of the Year.

He has served as an accreditation evaluator for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 2014; he has been a budget committee member for Albany School District 8J (2006-2008); and he has served as president of the Oregon Public Purchasing Association.

He and his wife, Heather, are the parents of two sons.