Mr. Matt Bierman joined Eastern Illinois University in 2022 as the Vice President for Business Affairs. He is a veteran leader in higher education with a diverse background in a wide range of university operations, including experience in budgeting, facilities, planning, auxiliaries, procurement, human resources, risk, information technology, debt financing, and an adjunct faculty member. As a professional in higher education, he strives to create opportunities to move institutions forward through teamwork, understanding the unique university and higher education needs of today, and collaborative leadership skills.

For Business Affairs at EIU, Matt leads the division to focus on strategic resource allocation, process improvement, finding efficiencies in our business models and improving service to all of those we service. The Business Affairs division includes many of the unsung heroes that make the operations of our campus successful. Matt believes that it is imperative that each person, invest in our work with a positive attitude and a willingness to consider the needs of others and the organization. With this approach, EIU will find continued success.

Prior to joining EIU, Matt served at Illinois Wesleyan University as chief financial officer, a member of the President’s Cabinet, and liaison to the Board of Trustees for a variety of board committees. He was responsible for the annual budget process, a lead contact to banking institutions, investment and financial advisors and rating agencies, and provided direction for a variety of on-campus projects, including several multi-million-dollar capital planning projects. He provided direction on expense management, and on new revenue opportunities.

Prior to his time at IWU, Matt served at Western Illinois University for 19 years in various roles including, Vice President for Administrative Services, Interim Director of Business Services, Director of University Budget, and Director of Residential Facilities. He earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Supply Chain Management from WIU, a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and a Bachelor of Business in Information Management degree with a minor in Computer Science, also from WIU.

Matt is originally a native of East Central Illinois and is excited to wear EIU Blue. He and his wife have three sons, one in high school and two who attend Universities in the Midwest. Go Panthers!