Jerry Tarrer

Jerry Tarrer is the senior vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer for Columbia College Chicago, an office he assumed in January 2017. In this capacity, he oversees the office of budget, planning, and analysis and the controller's, facility services, human resources, information technology, institutional effectiveness, and internal auditor's offices.

Prior to joining Columbia, Mr. Tarrer served as associate vice chancellor for business and financial services and chief financial officer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. There he helped develop a strategy to address the University's structural deficit, led the development of a new resource allocation model for the University, developed and implemented a six-year financial forecasting tool, helped develop UWM's first strategic enrollment plan, revamped the campus' procurement function and initiated the implementation of an administrative shared services plan.

At Columbia College Chicago, Mr. Tarrer played an instrumental role in developing the College's enrollment strategy that led to the first overall enrollment increase in over 10 years. He also led the development of the College's first 5-year financial forecasting and planning tool and has overseen the College's divestment from 3 major real estate assets. Currently he is leading numerous administrative improvement initiatives, the development of short- and long-term strategies to strengthen the College's balance sheet and overall fiscal position. In addition, Mr. Tarrer is leading the College's efforts to develop a facilities master plan.

A Chicago native, Mr. Tarrer received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.