VP and CFO Chris Kabourek
Chris Kabourek serves as vice president and chief financial officer at West Virginia University, providing strategic leadership and financial stewardship to support the University’s mission and long-term priorities.
Kabourek brings nearly 30 years of higher education leadership experience, most recently serving as senior vice president for administration and planning at The Ohio State University. In that role, he led a broad administrative portfolio spanning public safety, information technology, campus planning, facilities, real estate, and major capital projects.
Previously, Kabourek spent 27 years with the University of Nebraska System, where he held numerous leadership positions, including interim president and senior vice president and chief financial officer. As CFO, he oversaw financial and administrative services supporting a $3 billion annual operating budget, maintained the university’s Aa1 Moody’s credit rating, led major bond transactions, and modernized the institution’s financial and capital framework. He also advanced strategies for deferred maintenance and expanded financial aid opportunities for students through initiatives such as Nebraska Promise.
As interim president, Kabourek successfully closed a budget gap of more than $40 million, delivered a balanced budget to the incoming president, and led strategic initiatives including the launch of the Presidential Scholars Program.
At WVU, Kabourek oversees the Division of Finance, as well as Information Technology Services and Facilities Operations. His responsibilities encompass financial planning and analysis, budgeting, accounting, payroll, procurement, risk management, treasury operations, technology, facilities, capital projects, real estate, and sustainability.
A Nebraska native and first-generation college graduate, Kabourek earned a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is committed to the role that public, land-grant research universities play in expanding opportunity, serving their communities, and improving lives.