photo courtesy of vpaf.umd.edu
Carlo Colella, Facilities Management associate vice president, will take over as the administration and finance vice president until the university conducts its national search next year, university President Wallace Loh told university administrators today via email.
The announcement comes just about a week after former Administration and Finance Vice President Rob Specter abruptly announced his resignation after two years in the position. Colella, a university alumnus who is registered as a professional engineer, will add the interim post to his 25-year career at the university, much of which has been in Facilities Management.
Colella oversees about 800 employees in six departments in his current post, Loh wrote in an email provided to The Diamondback. He oversees a $1.5 billion capital program that spans seven of the University System of Maryland’s 12 institutions.
Before his resignation, Specter helped spearhead new plans for the East Campus development, a 22-acre project to help revitalize College Park that includes a hotel and conference center, upscale restaurants, shops and other amenities. Those plans include a redirection of the project — rather than one concentrated development, the university decided to build along Route 1.
Colella’s priorities will include public safety — University Police expanded its jurisdiction beyond campus borders at the end of the spring semester — real estate development, community revitalization, human resources and strategic fiscal planning, Loh wrote.
