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Meet the Faculty

Michael Baumert

Michael Baumert is Assistant Vice President and Controller - Financial Services at Arizona State University and is responsible for management of operational accounting, financial reporting, tax services, and payroll. A prior WACUBO workshop presenter, he received his MPA from Arizona State University in 2005 and BS in Accountancy and BA in Political Science from Miami University in 2003.  He began his professional career with the Arizona Office of the Auditor General as a financial auditor prior to joining Arizona State University in 2012.

Andres Chan

Andres Chan is Director, Office of Financial Analysis at University of Southern California. His responsibilities include both the preparation and rate negotiation of the University’s Facility and Administrative, Fringe Benefit and Paid Leave Proposals. Additionally, he oversees recharge centers and effort certification compliance and acts as the audit liaison for all University external sponsored audits. His career in higher education began at the California Institute of Technology where he worked for over 7 years. He then became a Senior Manager with MAXIMUS Inc. where he was involved in various ERP & Research Administration system implementations. Andres has over 25 years of experience in financial analysis and planning, research compliance and has gained considerable expertise in various areas which include: Facility & Administrative and Fringe Benefit Proposals, Space Surveys, Effort Reporting, and Audit with an extensive knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). Prior to his work in Higher Education, Andres worked as Financial Advisor for both American Express and Prudential. Additionally, Mr. Chan is a national federal indirect costing expert. He serves as faculty for Long Form F&A Training Workshops, WACUBO Grants Management Training workshops, and previously the prestigious NACUBO F&A Long-Form Training workshop and has served on Council of Government Relations (COGR) costing policy working groups and is currently Co-Chair of National Conference on College Cost Accounting (NACCA). He is also a frequent presenter at the National Conference on College Cost Accounting (NACCA), Western Cost Accountants (WECA), Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO) and National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA).

Gabriela "Gaby" Dominguez

Gaby plays a key role in coordinating the Strategic Plan Refresh by supporting and facilitating strategic projects across the university. Previously, as Program Manager at Columbia University, she expanded programs and services for BIPOC and first-generation students through collaborative partnerships and data-driven program evaluation. Drawing from her experience in education and the public sector, Gaby is dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus community. She channels this commitment into strategic initiatives that promote cross-university collaboration and alignment with institutional priorities.

Gaby holds a Master of Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelor's in Political Science from San Diego State University. Beyond the office, Gaby dedicates her time to community service, outdoor adventures, and creating memories with her family.

Callie Juarez

Dr. Callie Juarez is the Senior Director for Academic Resources and Planning at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). With over a decade of service at CSUN, she has held multiple leadership roles in financial and operational management within the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and the College of Health and Human Development. Prior to joining CSUN, Dr. Juarez held various administrative positions at California State University Channel Islands. 

In her current role, Dr. Juarez oversees comprehensive budget analysis and expenditure management across all funds within the Division of Academic Affairs. She provides executive-level financial and administrative support, ensuring strategic resource planning and operational efficiency. 

A lifelong advocate and participant in the California State University (CSU) system, Dr. Juarez has built her entire professional career in higher education, specifically within CSU institutions. She is also a proud product of the CSU: a Latina and first-generation college graduate who earned her B.A. in Psychology from Sonoma State University and both her M.P.A. and Ed.D. from CSUN. Additionally, Dr. Juarez currently serves as the Secretary of the Board for the Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO) and Chair of its Professional Development Steering Committee. 

Antonio "Tony" Nava

Antonio "Tony" has trained over 2000 staff as lead instructor for the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification at UCSD.  Additionally, he has trained 600 staff in process mapping as the administrator for Promapp. He was awarded the 2021 UC San Diego Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year. Tony regularly facilitates cross-departmental and cross-institutional projects, leverages Prosci Change Management, and applies LSS methodologies to support change initiatives campus-wide.

After developing an introductory AI Module which is now available to all UCSD staff, his current focus is on blending LSS and AI to ensure teams reach optimal benefits from each tool set. Tony earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from UC San Diego and his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from UC San Diego Extension.

Tony spends his time outside of work volunteering with youth organizations and cycling. When possible, he donates his ponytail to Locks of Love, a 501(c)(3) that supports a sense of self and normalcy in children suffering from hair loss.

Sara Reed

Dr. Sara Reed is a retired military officer with over 25 years of experience in leadership, management, organizational change, and leadership development. Through her service in higher education and the military, she has led diverse teams throughout the globe. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of People & Talent at Western Governors University, where she leads a team of trusted HR professionals and strategic partners to advance WGU’s mission and key results. Prior to that role, she served in different leadership capacities within higher education, including at a large urban community college and two large research institutions. Sara is a passionate advocate for higher education, especially in the areas of leadership and advancing equity, with the goal of helping people find their pathway to opportunity and see and reach their potential. Prior to her transition to higher education, she served as an active-duty military officer and is now retired from the United States Air Force. She earned her doctorate from Drexel University, MA Ed. from California State University – Sacramento, M.S. from Troy State, and BA from University of Minnesota and has earned the SHRM-Senior Certified Professional credential. She is married, is mother to three children, & is most often found with a book in her hand or in her ear, and is dedicated to lifelong learning and sharing that learning with others.

Brian Thomason

Brian Thomason is Vice President for Finance at Chapman University. He earned a BBA in Finance from Abilene Christian University and his MBA in Finance from Auburn University.  Brian is a Certified Public Accountant and has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting and Finance at Pepperdine and at Chapman. He previously worked as an Executive Director at JP Morgan, Associate Vice President and Controller at Pepperdine University, and Manager of Financial Planning and Reporting at Abilene Christian University. He serves as Executive Vice President of the BMW Car Club of America, Treasurer of St. John's Episcopal Church in Gg Harbor, WA and is a member of the Board of Global Samaritan Resources in Abilene, TX.

Guadalupe Valencia

Before joining UVI, Guadalupe spent several decades serving in accounting executive leadership positions at university campuses throughout the United States including The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center at El Paso (TTUHSCEP), the University of Washington (UW), the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the University of Arizona (U of A). In those roles, her duties included effort reporting, fixed asset/property accounting, service centers, facilities & administrative cost rates including corresponding negotiations, human capital management, facilities/physical plant operations and resources management, police operations, budget, student business services, capital asset management, financial reporting, financial system implementations, rate studies, procurement, and payroll operations. Furthermore, as Executive Director and Associate Controller for UW, she served as the primary liaison between the University and UW’s federal cognizant agency. At UAA, she served a dual appointment as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) for the Business Enterprise Institute and the University’s Financial Services Department. In this role, she served as CFAO for the Alaska Small Business Development Center and the Alaska Center for Economic Development. Most recently, she served as Senior Associate Vice President for Business Affairs and Deputy CFO at UTEP.

Guadalupe is a Past President of the Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO) and has served on the board of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). She is also on the board of the El Paso Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s in business administration with a concentration in Accounting from The University of Texas at El Paso and is a Certified Government Financial Manager.

Megan Glide Villasenor

Megan Glide Villasenor is the Chief of Staff at University of California.  Megan has 20 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as the chief of staff to the associate vice president and systemwide controller for the University of California. Prior to starting this position at the UC Office of the President, Megan has worked in positions on both the UC Davis and UC Berkeley campuses. Her leadership experience includes providing oversight and direction to a large, complex academic and translational research department, helping build the administrative structure for enrollment management at UC Davis, and helping build, implement, and lead the UC Davis Shared Services Organization.

Megan has a Master of Science in Business Administration/Taxation. She has been volunteering for WACUBO since 2017 and currently serves as co-chair of both the Women’s Leadership Forum and the Professional Development Workshops Committee. Outside of work, she runs a youth swim team and spends all her spare time with her husband and five kids.