Chris Harkins

Associate Vice President and University Budget Officer

Chris Harkins serves as Michigan State University’s (MSU) associate vice president and university budget officer. A senior member of the MSU Finance team, Harkins’ portfolio includes the Financial Planning and Budget (FPB), Institutional Space Planning and Management (ISPM), Business Plan Development, and Office of the SVP/CFO teams — aligning our financial, capital, and strategic planning efforts to promote efficient and effective use of the university’s resources.

Since joining MSU Finance in 2023, Harkins has driven alignment between the MSU 2030 strategic plan with our long-term effort to modernize and transform financial management systems and practices. He led the development of an internal business planning framework which has been a key tool leveraged in a multitude of MSU projects — from delivering a new research facility in Detroit as part of the landmark partnership between Henry Ford Health and MSU Health Sciences, to assessing the method for delivering concessions at athletic venues. Most recently, Harkins has worked alongside partner units to transform the university’s capital planning efforts, driving strategic alignment of resource allocation to support student, faculty, and staff needs across the university.

Harkins came to MSU following a nearly two-decade long career working within the government of the State of Michigan, culminating in his work as the state’s Budget Director. As a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, he was responsible for coordinating all aspects of the state’s $82 billion budget and overseeing a multitude of functional teams, including the Budget Development Offices; the Office of Financial Management; the Office of Internal Audit Services; the Center for Educational Performance and Information; and the SIGMA Support Organization. Harkins is proud to have participated in the creation of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, expanding the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, and creating the first-ever “rainy-day fund” for Michigan’s public schools. Prior to this role, Harkins served as Director of the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency, ensuring that the informational and fiscal needs of the Senate members were met.  

Harkins is a proud Spartan alum and holds a B.A. in International Relations from Michigan State University. He also earned his Master’s in Community and Economic Development from Pennsylvania State University. Harkins resides in Lansing with his wife and son and is active in many local community groups.