Kevin A. Nickel will become the new vice president for fiscal affairs at Bluffton University beginning Sept. 1, Bluffton's president, Dr. James M. Harder, has announced.

Nickel will succeed Willis Sommer, who is retiring at the end of August after 31 years of service to Bluffton, including the last 16 years as vice president for fiscal affairs.

Since 2006, Nickel has been the director of finance/controller at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. He obtained his bachelor's degree in accounting, with a minor in economics, from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his master's in business administration from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind.

"I'm very pleased that the search process will bring to Bluffton someone committed to the university's mission, who has significant financial management and accounting experience, and who has worked in a higher education setting that is very similar to ours," Harder said.

Nickel has 12 years of financial management and accounting experience at nonprofit organizations, as well as additional experience in private industry.

In addition to Eastern Mennonite University, he has worked at Greencroft Retirement Communities in Goshen, Ind., and Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Mich. Nickel's responsibilities have included budgeting, financial reporting, financial audits, purchasing and supervision of staff and accounting/business office functions.

In those settings, he worked closely with the human resources, financial aid and physical plant offices and staff.

"Kevin brings a combination of experience and interests that will help Bluffton continue to move forward," Harder noted. "In addition to his financial management experience, he has been involved in facilities planning and in administrative computing system upgrades."

In his role at Bluffton, Nickel will serve on the president's Cabinet and as the university's chief financial officer. Responsibilities include developing annual operating and capital budgets, overseeing financial controls and audit activities, and attention to long-term university financial planning and analysis. As a vice president, he will supervise business office, human resources, physical plant and information technology operations of the university.

Nickel is married to Kendra (Johns), a 2001 graduate of Bluffton University. They have two children. Nickel will begin work at Bluffton in mid-July to allow for a time of transition.