Rogers State University has announced that Tom Volturo, Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance, will be retiring on June 30.
Volturo joined the university in 2000 following a lengthy and distinguished career in the public sector, including the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s Office, East Central University, the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges, Tulsa County Data Processing, and the State Examiner and Inspector’s Office.
At RSU, he is responsible for overseeing a variety of business functions for the university, including accounting, auditing, budgeting, fiscal management, bursar, human resources, print shop, mail room, archive center, physical plant, motor pool, campus police, and television station. He also served as interim athletic director during a 2014 transition in that department while the athletic department was going through the membership process from NAIA membership to NCAA Division II membership. He serves as an ex-officio advisor to the Staff Advisory Council and has served on numerous university committees.
“RSU has been fortunate to have someone of Tom’s caliber in a leadership role for more than 19 years,” said RSU President Dr. Larry Rice. “His steady leadership has helped RSU navigate through periods of both historic expansion and historic cuts to public higher education in Oklahoma. His knowledge and expertise have been invaluable throughout his time at RSU.”
Rice noted that the university maintained financial integrity throughout Volturo’s tenure, which was demonstrated by regularly receiving clean external audit reports on the university’s financial statements and having a balanced budget each year.
Volturo began his time at RSU as the university transitioned from a two-year community college to a four-year regional university. During this time, he oversaw a dramatic physical campus transformation that saw the university add or refurbish more than a million square feet on its three campuses. This included a new library, student union, classrooms, athletic facilities, faculty and staff offices, dining facilities, infrastructure, and the addition of on-campus housing that helped establish RSU as the only residential, public university in the Tulsa metro.
Volturo helped initiate a sweeping energy conservation program that cut energy costs through a variety of initiatives, including installation of geothermal heating and cooling systems on the Claremore campus and implemented a managed print system which reduced the number of printers and copiers on campus. He also helps oversee the management of RSU food service, custodial work and the campus bookstore contracted to outside parties, which provided significant cost efficiencies that benefited the university.
Volturo has demonstrated his commitment to improving the lives of people during his 47 years of public service by also serving on the State Archives and Records Commission, State Insurance Fund, Oklahoma Board of Accountancy, Board of Trustees and Board of Directors St. Gregory’s College, and numerous professional and civic organizations.
“Among the many positions I’ve held in public service, Rogers State University will always hold a special place in my heart,” Volturo said. “RSU is a great institution focused on using the power of a college education to improve the lives of our students and their families. This couldn’t have been possible without a great team, leadership from the OU Board of Regents, former President Joe Wiley, President Larry Rice and to the dedicated RSU faculty and staff. It has been exciting to watch and be part of the growth of the university and the City of Claremore.”
Volturo stated, “I want to especially thank department heads and staff in the areas I oversaw, as well as President Rice, community leaders, businesses and friends who demonstrated their support for the university and its mission.”
The university will conduct a comprehensive search for Volturo’s replacement.