Ginger Burks Draughon to Serve as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

Ginger Burks Draughon has been selected as the Office of Research and Innovation’s new assistant vice chancellor for finance and administration, effective Oct. 17.

“It’s my pleasure to welcome Ginger to the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI),” says Mladen Vouk, vice chancellor for research. “We’re excited to see her many talents help make a difference, as we continue to support our university’s growing research enterprise.”

Burks Draughon will take over the duties currently handled by Rick Liston, assistant vice chancellor for research administration, who we announced earlier this year will be retiring effective Nov. 30.

Burks Draughon, who has been with NC State for a decade, brings over 20 years of budget and financial experience to the role. Burks Draughon joins ORI from the university’s Office of Finance and Administration, where since 2012, she’s served as the director of cost analysis in the division of budget and resource management.

Before coming to NC State, Burks Draughon spent more than 10 years at the UNC System Office, where she worked to become the associate vice president for finance — and oversaw budget operations for all 16 campuses of the UNC System. Prior to that, Burks Draughon served as an analyst in the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management.

Burks Draughon is a graduate of NC State, as well; in 2020, she earned her Ph.D. from the College of Education, in educational research and policy analysis, with a focus in higher education. Draughon also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s in political science and history from UNC-Chapel Hill.

A native of Shelby, North Carolina, Burks Draughon currently resides in Garner with her husband, Kelvin, and two children, Dorsey and Margaret.

“I’m thrilled to join the team in the Office of Research and Innovation and support NC State’s innovative, impactful research,” Burks Draughon says.