Graycarek comes to UofL from the University of Indianapolis, where he has been executive vice president of finance and administration since February 2024. During his tenure, he led the university to consecutive years of improved finances, including a 70% increase in cash balances and a 10% increase in endowment market value. Graycarek also eliminated a $17 million budget deficit while resourcing funds for cost-of-living increases, enhanced student mental health services, increased student financial aid and improved residence hall experiences. He also successfully led a $79 million housing transaction that secured long-term university ownership of three apartment complexes and provided significant upfront and ongoing financial benefits.

“We’re excited to bring Rick back home to UofL,” said President Gerry Bradley. “He is an accomplished and experienced financial leader with a proven track record in budget management, capital planning and leading successful teams. Best of all, he knows the opportunities and realities here at UofL. We’re confident in his ability to address a challenging financial climate.”

Graycarek has a master’s degree with a public administration/public finance concentration from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He also completed the Fellows program with the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

At UofL, Graycarek replaces Charlie Perusse, who had been serving as EVPFA/CFO in an interim role. Perusse presented a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026 despite considerable pressures and worked on a new affiliation agreement with UofL Health.

Graycarek previously worked under UofL EVPFA/CFO Dan Durbin, who passed away earlier this year.

“I am deeply grateful and excited to return to the Cardinal family,” Graycarek said. “I look forward to working with President Bradley and his team, the Board of Trustees and the entire UofL community to advance the university’s strategic plan. I am also incredibly thankful for my family, friends and Dan Durbin whose support and inspiration have meant the world to me.”

LeMay’s hiring follows a national search and was approved today by the UofL Board of Trustees. He is expected to start March 1.

“Aaron is a rare find,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “We had a very deep pool of qualified candidates, but his combination of work with both major research universities and well-respected health care systems set him apart as the top choice. We look forward to his joining our great team at UofL, and we expect his future here to be very bright.”

Currently, LeMay is serving as an independent consultant for health care and higher education institutions with his own firm, LeMay Consulting, in Houston. His most recent positions were at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where he served as the special advisor to the president, interim chief business and finance officer and vice president, financial accounting and reporting.

During his time at UTMB, he provided strategic leadership to various key operations, including revenue cycle, business operations, facility, information technology services, supply chain, procurement, budget, forecasting, capital planning, controller, risk management and treasury.

Prior to joining UTMB, LeMay was associate vice chancellor for finance and system controller for the University of North Texas System in Denton, Texas. He also has held various positions at Sam Houston State University, Rice University and Baylor University, all in Texas.

LeMay is a Texas Certified Public Accountant and member of the State Bar of Texas. He holds a law degree from South Texas College of Law, a master’s in education from Baylor and a bachelor’s with honors from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

“Joining the UofL team under President Schatzel’s leadership enables me to be part of a tradition of excellence and gives me an opportunity to help build an exciting future for this storied institution,” LeMay said. “I am excited to be part of a community that is working together to improve student success, the level of collaboration among operations and workforce development. I look forward to working with the finance and administration team to build upon an already strong foundation.” 

Durbin has served as associate vice president for health affairs/chief financial officer for the UofL Health Sciences Center since May 2017. Bendapudi stressed that his appointment will help tie the university’s campuses together, streamlining administration and improving consistency among departments.

Durbin previously served as senior associate vice president for administration and finance at West Virginia University. He joined the WVU Division of Finance in 2006. Before joining the finance division, he held financial and administrative leadership positions at the WVU Health Sciences Center for nearly 20 years, ultimately becoming its director of budget and financial operations.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Glenville State College in Glenville, West Virginia, and his master’s in public administration from WVU.

Durbin also serves as a peer reviewer and evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Shafer is currently head of business development and investor relations for Ramsey Quantitative Systems Inc., a specialty finance firm/hedge fund in Louisville. He also is principal and founder of BRS Consulting, a firm that provides fundraising, training and development search services.

He has 21 years of experience in higher education, most recently as vice president of development for the College Foundation at the University of Virginia. Previous roles include associate dean of advancement and executive director of the Kenan-Flagler Business School Foundation, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; and director of estate and gift planning and professional outreach at Arizona State University Foundation.

He served six years in the United States Air Force Guard, was promoted three times and was honorably discharged. 

Shafer holds a bachelor of science in education and a master of education in higher education administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his juris doctor at the Creighton University School of Law.

While Shafer is serving in the interim role, the university will begin a national search for a permanent vice president for advancement.

“These positions are vital to the success of the University of Louisville,” Bendapudi said. “I am so pleased to have them join our leadership team. Dan and Brad are outstanding professionals, and they will play key roles in helping us shape the future of the university. They are hitting the ground running.”

Jonathan Pruitt, senior vice president for finance and budget and chief financial officer at the University of North Carolina System, will assume the CFO role at UofL, pending Board of Trustees approval. Pruitt is scheduled to join the UofL team Jan. 16, 2018.

Pruitt was hired after an extensive national search led by an internal committee made up of faculty, staff and administrators from the Belknap and HSC campuses and a national firm, Isaacson, Miller. He also met with a number of groups including the Faculty and Staff Senate executive committees, trustees and several employees who will report to him.

“The University of Louisville is a remarkable institution, and I am honored, humbled, and excited to assume this role,” Pruitt said. “As the higher education landscape becomes increasingly competitive, successful public institutions must be able to demonstrate their value proposition to students, families and taxpayers. UofL is well-positioned to enhance the social and economic mobility of the state, and I look forward to joining President Postel and his team in the work ahead.” 

Pruitt has been with the UNC system, which is comprised of 16 public, four-year institutions and one residential high school, since 2006. As senior vice president and CFO, he leads the financial and business affairs of the system, with a combined operating budget of $10 billion. He is credited with significant improvements in areas ranging from financial transparency to operational efficiencies.

He began his career with Kentucky’s higher education system, having served both as a senior associate, finance, for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary ����ֱ�� and as a policy and budget analyst for the Office for Policy and Management.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring someone with Mr. Pruitt’s credentials to the university,” said Greg Postel, M.D., UofL’s interim president. “His expertise will be vital as we continue to streamline our financial processes and ensure we are accountable to our campus community and the citizens of Kentucky.”

A native of Pikeville, Ky., Pruitt received his bachelor of arts from Centre College and his master of public administration degree from the University of Kentucky.