Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Dr. Baker Pattillo, president of Stephen F. Austin State University, today named Danny Gallant as interim vice president for finance and administration.

Gallant has served as associate vice president for budget and finance since 2006.

I have confidence Mr. Gallant will serve the university well as interim vice president, Pattillo said.

Mr. Gallant is intimately familiar with the financial issues of the university, and he has strong working relationships with individuals in academic and administrative units throughout the campus.

Gallant has been responsible for preparing the annual university budget, managing investments and preparing reports for the Texas Legislature since he was named director of financial services in 1993.

Before arriving as a student at SFA in 1980, Gallant completed a three-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army in 1976 and later worked full time. He graduated cum laude in 1983 with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and earned a master of business administration degree in 1986.

In 1982, Gallant began work at SFA as a student assistant in the business office. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he accepted the full-time position of accountant II. Gallant was promoted to assistant business manager in 1987 and became business manager in 1989.

In addition to his administrative role, Gallant also served as adjunct faculty in 1986-92 in the College of Business department of economics and finance, and he taught SFA 101, a freshman success program, for eight years.

In 2001-04, Gallant served on the university salary equity committee, which focused on pay issues for faculty and staff. He currently serves on the SFA 2013 Strategic Planning Committee.

Gallant views the role of finance and administration as a service division within the university.

My goal is to support the university's academic mission through the thoughtful and efficient use of financial resources, Gallant said.

SFAs office of finance and administration oversees the university accounting and purchasing functions, human resources, the campus safety office, and physical plant.