Miles Lackey

Miles Lackey has been named vice chancellor for Business Affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington following a national search, according to an announcement from the university.

Lackey is a North Carolina native who will bring experience in higher education, private industry and political affairs to UNCW, officials said in the release.

“Miles Lackey’s broad professional background will benefit our university’s commitment to growth with quality,” Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli said in the release. “Miles previously served at Auburn University, Iowa State University, UNC Chapel Hill and the UNC System, and we expect him to excel at UNCW as well. We look forward to welcoming him to the Seahawk family on April 30.”

Lackey will serve as the university’s chief business and financial officer. His responsibilities will include overseeing endowment investments; leading UNCW’s budget development process; preparing financial statements; collaborating with other vice chancellors and the chancellor on funding opportunities for strategic initiatives; managing associated organizations and their financial accounting, reporting and audits; serving as the key contact for federal, state and local audits; and coordinating business and financial matters with the Business Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Lackey formerly served as the CFO and chief of staff at Iowa State University, where he led the university’s budget planning process for five years, initiated several cost-saving measures, enhanced financial reporting and leveraged public-private partnerships, officials said in the release.

He also managed a $1.5 billion budget and was directly involved in the planning, approval and financing processes for more than $300 million in capital projects, officials said.

Lackey previously directed the Office of Federal Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he served as the chief federal policy advisor to the chancellor, board of trustees and campus leadership and research teams.

He formerly worked for the UNC System where, as director for federal relations; he developed and managed connections between the system, its 17 member institutions, federal agencies and the state's congressional delegation. In 2003, Lackey began a three-year stint as a legislative aide for then-Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC).

“I welcome the opportunity to join the team at UNCW, an innovative university with a well-respected reputation for high-quality teaching, research and service to both North Carolina and the nation,” Lackey said in the release. “I look forward to collaborating with the outstanding staff in the Division for Business Affairs as we develop new and exciting ways to continue supporting UNCW’s mission, vision and values.”

Lackey holds an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory.