University of the Virgin Islands | Spring 2026 Workshop Series 

Monday, March 2–Friday, March 6, 2026 

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Meet the Faculty

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).

Deston Halverson

Deston Halverson is a Research Administration Specialist at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Deston is responsible for directing UCSD’s post-award accounting function, leading a team of 40 individuals responsible for all aspects of sponsored research post-award administration for $1.5 billion in annual research expenditures. Prior to UCS Deston worked at Attain LLC and Huron Consulting group where he worked with more than 50 universities and institutions focused on assisting clients with various projects within research administration with expertise in cost recovery, F&A rate development and federal regulatory compliance.  Deston also spent 10 years at the California Institute of Technology In research administration working on post award support, financial analysis, research compliance and audit resolution.  Mr. Halverson is a national post award accounting and federal indirect costing expert. He presented research administration topics at many conferences including NACUBO, NCURA, FRA, SRA, NECA and NACCA.  He is currently on the National Conference on College Cost Accounting (NACCA) planning committee and was chair of the Western College Cost Accountants (WECCA) for three years.

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. 

Mark McGurk

Since July 2018, Mark McGurk has led UTEP’s business operations and overseen the University’s annual operating budget of $500 million. He is responsible for managing UTEP’s balance sheet and capital structure, financial planning, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, audit activities, capital planning, and human resources. McGurk has worked in higher education for more than 25 years and has over 30 years of supervisory and managerial experience. He began his tenure in higher education as a student employee at UTEP and rose through the ranks serving as the University’s associate comptroller for eleven years. 

Before his return to UTEP, McGurk served as the University of Arizona’s comptroller for nearly a decade. The institution promoted him to associate vice president and comptroller. From there, McGurk moved to The University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, where he was vice president for business affairs for three years. In 2021, McGurk was elected president of the El Paso chapter of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Chapter. He previously served on the Board of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the AGA.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and finance from UTEP and a Master of Educational Leadership in Higher Education from Northern Arizona University.

Guadalupe Valencia

Guadalupe Valencia is University of the Virgin Island’s (UVI) Interim Vice President for Finance & Administration/Chief Financial Officer (CFO).  She provides leadership and guidance to the Administration & Finance units at the University.   She is also responsible for working with leadership to ensure fiscal resources are properly aligned with the institution’s mission and vision. 

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.