President Barbara R. Snyder announced today that University General Counsel Elizabeth “Libby” Keefer will assume the additional position of Senior Vice President for Administration, effective Jan. 20. Keefer succeeds John Wheeler, who announced his retirement Dec. 15.
“John brought such enormous insight and expertise to his role that I truly dread his departure,” President Snyder said. “Fortunately for Case Western Reserve, Libby has demonstrated her own remarkable blend of wisdom and savvy since she arrived in 2011. I am profoundly grateful that she has agreed to bring those talents to this position while continuing her leadership of our legal office.”
Keefer’s expanded responsibilities will include oversight of human resources and campus planning and facilities management. As general counsel, she has engaged extensively with both offices regarding such matters as property acquisition, litigation and service contracts.
“We are fortunate to have people with deep experience and great dedication in each of these roles,” Keefer said. “John nurtured a strong sense of collaboration among his teams, and I look forward to working with them more closely.”
As part of the transition, Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer John Sideras will assume supervision of Richard “Dick” Jamieson, vice president for campus services. Much of Jamieson’s area involves functions auxiliary to the academic enterprise—for example, parking, dining and housing.
“Much of campus services relates to business operations,” President Snyder said. “John Sideras is well suited to oversee these efforts, and I am grateful to him for taking on the additional responsibility.”
Sideras served as interim CFO beginning in May, 2008, and assumed the role permanently the following February. During his tenure, the university eliminated a nearly $20 million deficit and went on to achieve annual surpluses from fiscal years 2009 through 2014, when the surplus totaled $7.2 million. Prior to coming to Case Western Reserve, he spent a decade at MetroHealth Medical Center, first as CFO and then as president and chief executive officer.
Keefer, meanwhile, served as Columbia University’s general counsel for more than a decade after stints as a private sector general counsel and law firm partner. She began her career in the federal government, first as a legal adviser within the U.S. Department of State and later as a Deputy Under Secretary in the U.S. Air Force. She came to Case Western Reserve after three years at the Arlington, Va.,-based TMG Strategies, a national firm that advises organizations regarding strategic communications and litigation, among other issues.
“I returned to higher education because I missed the energy and ideas you feel everywhere on a college campus,” Keefer said. “I came to Case Western Reserve in particular because Barbara so impressed me as a leader with integrity and vision. I was not seeking new responsibilities, but when she asked, I could not say ‘no.’”
President Snyder noted that she will assess staffing needs for the counsel’s office as Keefer broadens her contributions to the university. Both are committed to maintaining high levels of quality in all of the areas Keefer leads, and at the same time doing so in the most economical manner.