Pac-12 names Laura Hazlett as new CFO, announces other leadership changes

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference announced today three changes to its leadership team, including naming Laura Hazlett as the new Chief Financial Officer. Hazlett joins the Pac-12 with valuable experience as a former university and athletics CFO, including an impressive track record on two Pac-12 campuses.

For the past four years, Hazlett has served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the California College of Arts, leading strategy for integrated planning and new initiatives across CCA’s campuses. Prior to CCA, she was the Chief Financial Officer for Athletics at the University of California, Berkeley, responsible for the business office, financial planning, and analysis of major capital projects, business contracts, information technology, and human resources. Hazlett also served as consultant to the University of Oregon for two years, during which she was the financial point person for the development of Matthew Knight Arena. In this role, she served as the liaison between the athletics department, university administration, faculty, and the community.

“We are thrilled to attract a talented and strategic financial executive with such an impressive track record in higher education,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. “We look forward to Laura tackling important strategic initiatives for the Conference, and being a close collaborator with our Conference’s athletic departments and university administrators as we help manage budget priorities and pursue new opportunities.”

With four Pac-12 degrees in mathematics, economics, and a Ph.D. in management, Hazlett has been a professor at Purdue University and brings with her an important understanding of the academic side of Pac-12 member institutions.

“I am honored to return to the Pac-12 in such an exciting position, with great potential to deliver value to the 12 member institutions,” said Hazlett. “The Pac-12 and its universities are unmatched in their academic excellence and leadership in college sports, and I look forward to partnering with both our athletics and university administrators to maximize what college sports can do for our universities and their student-athletes.”

Public Affairs, Communications Changes

Commissioner Scott also announced today a promotion for Senior VP Erik Hardenbergh into the Chief of Staff role. For the last five years, Hardenbergh has led major public affairs initiatives and strategic communications efforts for the Pac-12. In his new role, he will coordinate and lead organization-wide initiatives and special projects, as well as spearhead communications and priorities from the Commissioner’s office.

Replacing Hardenbergh in leading the Pac-12’s communications team will be Andrew Walker as the new VP of Public Affairs, Head of Communications.  A Stanford and NYU law alum with a strong background in marketing and communications, Walker joins the Pac-12 after running his own sports marketing and communications consultancy with clients in New York and London. Prior to that, Walker built a notable marketing and communications track record at the Women’s Tennis Association, the ATP World Tour, and Burson-Marsteller, among others that earned him a place on Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list. 

“Coming off one of the most successful years in our history with 13 NCAA team championships and continued leadership on student-athlete welfare issues, the Pac-12 is poised for continued success,” said Scott. “I am excited about these leadership moves and confident that Laura, Erik, and Andrew will strengthen our ability to chart a successful future for our conference and member universities.”

About the Pac-12 Conference
The Conference has a tradition as the “Conference of Champions,” leading the nation in NCAA Championships in 51 of the last 57 years, with 501 NCAA team titles overall. The Conference comprises 12 leading U.S. universities: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Colorado, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Utah, the University of Washington and Washington State University.  For more information on the Conference’s programs, member institutions, and Commissioner Larry Scott, go to www.pac-12.com/conference.