Matthew Rish Appointed Associate Provost for Administration and Resource Management

Matthew Rish has been appointed the associate provost for administration and resource management at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Rish comes to UNCW from the North Carolina State Health Plan in Raleigh, NC, where he served as a senior director and oversaw finance, planning and analytics. His appointment with UNCW will begin June 24.

The associate provost for administration and resource management facilitates strategies pertaining to the Division of Academic Affairs, namely in the areas of administration, finance, budget, personnel and communications. In addition to leading execution of policies and procedures related to programming, infrastructure and leadership support within the division, this position serves as a senior advisor and collaborates in the planning, development and implementation of the division’s priorities and activities. The associate provost will lead teams that handle divisional resources, carry out action plans and efficiently and effectively deliver project goals in line with the university’s strategic plan.

Rish will report to the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and serve as a member of the Provost’s Cabinet.

“I am delighted to welcome Matthew Rish to our UNCW community,” said Provost James J. Winebrake. “Matt exhibits a unique combination of financial acumen, managerial experience and strategic thinking that will serve our university well as we evolve as a large, national, public research university and navigate a dynamic higher education landscape.”

Rish brings over 26 years of financial administration and leadership experience, with time spent in various healthcare settings and higher education institutions. In higher education, he served as a business officer and associate chair of administration for a department in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine; and as assistant dean of finance and administration at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. In the healthcare field, he served in a variety of roles including vice president of finance, chief operating officer and finance director.

“I am eager to start working with Provost Winebrake and the team at UNCW,” said Rish. “Throughout my interview process, I was extremely impressed by all the individuals I encountered and the campus atmosphere. With the implementation of the new strategic plan and the forthcoming campus master plan, it is an exciting time to be a part of the Seahawk community!”

Rish holds an MBA in business administration from Cleveland State University, a bachelor’s degree in health services administration and business administration from Ohio University and an executive certificate from Vanderbilt Law School. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors for Summit Workforce Solutions and has held membership with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).