Atkins named campus Bursar
The ñ named Gregory Atkins as director of the Bursar’s Office, effective Oct. 10. Atkins comes to ñ from the University of Louisville, where he served as bursar for the past four years. Atkins has more than 29 years of experience in higher education at the college and university level, where he has primarily focused on student business services.
Atkins says he came to ñ primarily because of the reputation of the institution, its peopleand, specifically, the bursar’s office.
“The bursar’s office has tremendous peer respect at institutions across the country,” Atkins said. “I’m so excited to be a part of this and to bring my knowledge and experience to help us maximize our resources and be the best we can be.”
Atkins said he believes this work makes a difference about how ñ is able to educate its students, family and community about the financial aspects of attendance.
Laura Ragin, assistant vice chancellor and campus controller, saysAtkins was a great choice for the university because he understands the need for stewardship of the university’s resources, and he knows how to navigate the challenging regulatory environment of student business services.
“Greg has both the knowledge and ability to interpret federal and state regulatory requirements,” says Ragin. “This means that he can ensure our continued compliance with these regulations and reduce potential financial risks for the university.”
Ragin added that Greg's prior experience on committees such as Tuition and Fees Setting, Strategic Enrollment Management and Budget Advisory will provide a strong basis for cross-campus and constituent collaboration.
“In his role as our bursar, Greg will continue to build a strong, efficient department focused on working together to provide the best service possible to students, parentsand staff, on behalf of the university,” Ragin said.
For his part, Atkins has a “team-first” mentality.
“I don’t really feel like I’m personally the bursar of this university,” says Atkins. “In my mind, the bursar is the team that makes up this department. It takes an entire unit working together to help our students and families become financially informed and to help them financially achieve the dream of attending ñ.”
Atkins earned both his BA and MBA from Upper Iowa University. He served on the Minnesota Collection Network Board from 1995 to2002;Florida Association of Bursar and Student Accounting Administrators (FABSAA) board from 2004 to 2008 (as President for the 2007-08 year);and Kentucky Association of Student Receivable Officers (KASRO) since 2012, most recently as President for 2015-16. He has extensive knowledge in PeopleSoft Student Financials and more than 20 years of experience with the Heartland-ECSI Student Loan/Receivables platform.
