Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance
University of Chicago
Elizabeth (Bess) Wildman serves as Vice Dean of Administration and Finance for the Biological Sciences Division. As a member of the senior leadership team, Bess is responsible for strategic financial and administrative planning, budget development and implementation, and policy formulation and organizational development. Bess partners with other executives to set the direction of research, clinical and administrative matters for the BSD and Pritzker School of Medicine. She is responsible for implementing processes and administrative systems to foster growth, efficiency, recruitment, and retention of faculty and building the financial strength of the BSD. She has direct oversight of financial operations and budgets as well as facilities planning and management, human resources, information services, faculty practice plan academic affairs, and faculty compensation.
Bess 30-year career in a variety of leadership roles with proven success delivering administrative, operations, and financial results at leading schools of medicine, practice plans, and health systems. She as worked at University of California, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Bess holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University.
Leadership Insights: Fueling Growth in the Academic Health Enterprise
Monday, March 2, 2026
2:00pm - 3:00pm CT