The University of Alabama System announced three executive leadership appointments as it restructures oversight of the state’s largest higher education and health care enterprise.
Effective October 1, Dana S. Keith will serve as senior vice chancellor for finance and investments, Mark Foley will become vice chancellor for administration and chief of staff, and Mary Caroline Wynn will serve as secretary of the Board of Trustees and system counsel.
The UA System leadership changes separate finance and investments from administration — functions previously overseen together under the senior vice president for finance and administration.
System officials said the restructuring reflects continued growth and the expanding demands of its academic, health care, research and administrative operations.
“Dana, Mark and Mary Caroline are all highly respected and extremely capable,” UA System Chancellor Sid J. Trant said. “This evolved leadership structure will strengthen our ability to support our institutions and the people we serve and position us for continued success across the University of Alabama System.”
Dr. Dana S. Keith – Senior Vice President for Finance & Investments
As the primary advisor to the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor on financial strategy and stewardship, Keith will oversee Systemwide fiscal integrity, institutional funding strategies, asset and debt management, investments and the long-term financial sustainability of the UA System and its affiliated entities. Deeply experienced across higher education and healthcare finance and public accounting, Keith joined the UA System in 2004 – first as Associate Vice President for Financial Affairs at The University of Alabama – and has served in senior financial leadership roles for more than two decades. She earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from UA, B.S. and MBA degrees from Southern Mississippi, and a B.S. degree from Mississippi State University. She is a certified public accountant.
Mark Foley – Vice Chancellor for Administration and Chief of Staff
Foley will oversee key administrative functions in the UA System Office, including Construction Management, Human Resources, Information Technology and Security Operations. Over the past seven years as Secretary of the Board of Trustees and System Counsel, Foley has successfully navigated complex legal, governance and operational issues while fostering strong relationships across the UA System. In his new role, Foley will continue advising the Chancellor on policy, operational and cross-functional matters while leading strategic initiatives through collaboration with institutional leaders and external stakeholders. Prior to joining the UA System, Foley practiced commercial litigation for several years. He graduated with honors from The University of Alabama with a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Chemistry and earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.
Mary Caroline Wynn – Secretary of the Board of Trustees and System Counsel
The UA System Board of Trustees appointed Wynn to serve as Secretary of the Board at its annual meeting held on Sept. 11, 2026. In the role, Wynn will coordinate Board and Committee meetings, maintain records of Board actions, serve as a liaison between the Board and the UA System, and support strategic initiatives across the enterprise. Wynn previously practiced law as a shareholder in Maynard Nexsen’s Insurance and Financial Services Litigation Practice Group. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from The University of Alabama School of Law, where she served as Executive Editor of the Alabama Law Review and was a national quarterfinalist on the ABA National Moot Court Team. She also earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from UA, graduating summa cum laude and gaining membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
The University of Alabama System educates more than 71,500 students, provides millions of patient visits annually and supports one in 14 Alabama jobs.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
