Dorre to retire in January

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Associate athletic director for business affairs Tom Dorre has announced that he will retire from the University of Arkansas after 42 and a half years on Jan. 31, 2010. Dorre joined the athletic department on Aug. 22, 2002 and has served the last seven years as the head of the Razorbacks’ business affairs.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to work at the University of Arkansas for more than 42 years," Dorre said. "I started with the University immediately after graduation and have been a part of this great institution ever since. I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people at the University of Arkansas including working closely with those in the university administration and in the athletic department.

"Coach Frank Broyles gave me an opportunity to join the athletic department back in 2002 and it has been a pleasure to be a part of the Razorback family. When Jeff Long came aboard, I told him that I was nearing retirement but would stay to help get things started with a combined department and a new administration. I appreciate Jeff’s support and am confident that Razorback Athletics will continue to grow and prosper under his leadership. Although I am officially retiring in January, my love for the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks will remain an active part of my life in the days and years to come."

Since joining the athletic department in 2002, Dorre has overseen business operations, including budgeting and accounting, ticketing, contracts, travel and purchasing. The chief financial officer of the athletic department, Dorre is a member of the department’s executive and senior staffs and oversaw the combining of business operations from the former women’s and men’s athletic departments into one unit.

"Tom Dorre has been instrumental in the financial matters of the University of Arkansas and the athletic department for more than four decades," Long said. "His leadership and expertise in business affairs has been crucial to the success of our recent combining of athletic departments as well as many other athletic related projects in the past seven years. I appreciate his loyalty and dedication to the University of Arkansas and the Razorback program. I am also personally grateful for his service and counsel during the past 18 months as we faced important decisions regarding the financial future of our program. On behalf of Razorback Athletics, I thank Tom for his many years of service. We all wish Tom and Connie the best in their retirement."

Before joining the athletic department, Dorre spent the previous 16 years as the associate vice chancellor for finance. In that role over his last five years, he was responsible for UA’s tax compliance office and managed the in-house software development team that created and implemented the university’s business and administrative strategic information system. The system included applications for budgeting, general ledger, procurement, accounts payable, position control, departmental accounting, payroll, and personnel and electronic approval that met Y2K requirements and eliminated redundant data entry and the use of paper forms.

From 1987-97, Dorre, who earned an MBA from the university in 1980, managed the budget and financial affairs offices, which included all general ledger accounting functions as well as grant and contract compliance, plant and property reporting and compliance, external financial reporting, external audit compliance, and IRS compliance and reporting.

For just more than a year, from May 1993 to June 1994, he served as the interim vice chancellor for finance and administration. During that time, he managed the offices of financial affairs, business affairs, human resources, physical plant, computing service, public safety, financial management and analysis, and treasurer.

Dorre, a 1967 Arkansas graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, has been at the university in various positions since he graduated.

He began his career in the controller’s office, a position he held from 1967-75. From 1975-81, he was UA’s budget director. He worked as associate vice chancellor for administration from 1981 until becoming associate vice chancellor for finance in 1987.

Dorre is currently on the Arkansas Alumni Association Board of Directors and UA’s Survey Research Center Policy Board. In the past, he has served on the athletic and financial advisory committees, UA’s Faculty Athletic Committee, the Student Fee Review Board and the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Search Committee. He has also served two terms on the board of directors of the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County, Inc., among others.

Dorre and his wife Connie have one daughter, Kristy, and two grandchildren.