Kenneth Buchanan of Western North Carolina has joined the University of Mount Olive as Vice President for Business and Finance. In this position, he will be responsible for all financial and fiscal management aspects of the University, including providing leadership and coordination in the administrative, planning, accounting, and budgeting efforts of the University.

Buchanan, who has relocated to Mount Olive, has worked most of his career in the non-profit sector of higher education. Prior to joining UMO, he served as VP for Finance and Administration/CFO at Salem Academy and College in Winston-Salem. Buchanan held a similar role at Lees McRae College in Banner Elk. He has also taught accounting and finance as an adjunct at McDowell Technical Community College.

Buchanan is a member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), North Carolina Association of CPAs (NCACPA), and Rotary Club, as well as a former member of the Kiwanis. He has served on the boards of the Western Carolina Chapter of Credit Unions, the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, and Center for Craft Creativity and Design (CCCD). He has also served as Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee at his church.

Regarding his new positon, Buchanan said, “I feel blessed to be part of President Croom’s team and appreciate the opportunity to be part of the UMO family. I want to use my knowledge and experience to help continue moving the University forward.”

Buchanan and his wife, Donna, have a daughter, Jennifer, and a grandson, Aidan.