Dear colleagues,
I am writing to share an announcement about a key member of the Division of Administration and the Vanderbilt community. Mike Perez, associate vice chancellor and chief facilities officer, will retire at the end of the calendar year. This is bittersweet news, as we are incredibly happy for Mike to begin the next phase of his life but will truly miss working with him.
It is an understatement to say that Mike has made an impact at Vanderbilt. Mike has led the Facilities organization, which includes Campus Planning and Construction, Plant Operations, Real Estate and the Business Operations center, since 2016; sustainability efforts were under his purview for most of this time until they recently transitioned to the health and wellness organization.
During his time at Vanderbilt, Mike has overseen the implementation of capital projects as part of FutureVU, Vanderbilt’s campus master plan; ensured that changes to the built environment aligned with the university’s commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship of campus resources; and centralized financial and other support services within Facilities into a more efficient structure that served the entire organization. Mike also sought to connect all parts of the organization and create an identity and culture within Facilities of providing excellent service to the university community. His team was a crucial part of the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including cleaning and sanitizing spaces, installing signage on campus, ordering PPE and other supplies, ensuring vital capital projects could continue, and much more.
As he departs the Facilities organization, Mike is committed to ensuring a smooth transition. He will shift to remote work early this summer as he and his wife relocate to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and his last official day at Vanderbilt will be Dec. 31, 2023.
Mike’s outstanding leadership and dedication to Vanderbilt have been significant and meaningful, and his legacy will endure. Please join me in extending your appreciation and well wishes to Mike as he embarks on this next phase.
Sincerely,
Eric Kopstain
Vice Chancellor for Administration