Tim Burgess, a veteran state government official who is completing a term as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health, will join the university Dec. 1 as associate vice president and budget director.
The appointment, subject to approval by the University System Board of Regents, was announced by Hank Huckaby, UGA’s senior vice president for finance and administration.
This will be Burgess’s second post at UGA, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1977. He served as associate vice president for finance and administration from April 1999 to July 2000.
After leaving UGA he was chief financial officer for the Georgia Technology Authority and was the first commissioner of the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety. In 2003, Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed him state community health commissioner, a term that ends this year.
“Tim brings an outstanding record of experience in administrative and financial management to our budget office,” says Huckaby.
Burgess will fill the position previously held by Ryan Nesbit, who was named senior associate vice president for finance and administration earlier this semester. Burgess will be responsible for development and management of UGA’s $1.3 billion annual operating budget and for development of the university’s annual capital plan. He also will manage capital project funding for physical plant improvement projects at UGA facilities throughout the state.
Burgess began his career in state government in 1979 with the Office of Planning and Budget. He held several positions and in 1995, Gov. Zell Miller appointed him director, a post he held until joining UGA in 1999.
A graduate of the Leadership Georgia program and a participant in the Global Leaders of the South Leadership Forum, Burgess also has completed the Atlanta Regional Commission Regional Leadership Institute. While heading the state motor vehicle safety department he served on the international board of directors of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
Burgess also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia State University.
