Jonathan P. Varnell

Jonathan P. “Jon” Varnell has been appointed UNC Charlotte’s new associate vice chancellor for facilities management. He will assume his duties in early December.

Varnell currently serves as the vice president for administration at Indiana’s Valparaiso University, where his responsibilities include all facilities management operations, construction, capital planning and management, and utilities and energy management, among other duties.

In his new role at UNC Charlotte, Varnell will lead more than 450 employees in the Department of Facilities Management in planning, building, operating, and maintaining the University’s buildings and landscape. He will report directly to Elizabeth A. Hardin, vice chancellor for business affairs.

“Jon Varnell brings strong leadership and management skills to a nationally recognized facilities organization at UNC Charlotte,” Hardin said. “His integrative management skills, ability to improve processes and organizations, and proven capacity to enhance a customer-service culture will advance Facilities Management’s contributions to campus. His guitar-playing skills will be appreciated at holiday parties as well.”

From 2003 until 2015, Varnell worked for Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. He began as the director of facilities and campus services, advancing to associate vice president for operations and facilities, and then to vice president for administration.

His previous employers include Aramark and Taylor University.

Varnell holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Taylor. He is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Management Development Program and APPA’s Institute for Facilities Management.