University of North Georgia is a comprehensive, multi-campus university with about 20,000 students and 1000 employees. Dr. McConnell serves as the Chief Financial Officer and oversees an annual budget in excess of $280 million and has direct responsibility for financial operations including capital budget, financial reporting, budget, auxiliary enterprises, information technology, and public safety. He has been employed by the University of North Georgia since 1987, serving as Director of Procurement for 10 years; Comptroller for 2 years; as Vice President for Business & Finance since 1999 and in 2012 was named Senior Vice President for Business and Finance. Prior to his tenure at North Georgia, he worked as Assistant Comptroller for Georgia Marble Company in Tate, Georgia, and Assistant Comptroller for The Times Newspaper in Gainesville, Georgia. 

A Dahlonega, GA native, Dr. McConnell has deep family ties to the North Georgia region. He resides in Dahlonega with his wife Tona (NGC class of ’77). Mac and Tona have two sons: Zak (deceased) graduated from North Georgia College & State University and attended the University of Georgia, and Zeb is a graduate of the University of North Georgia. Mac's daughter-in-law, Lacee Sheffield, is a UNG graduate and is employed in the library here at North Georgia. Dr. McConnell’s community involvement includes being past President of Dahlonega Rotary Club, The Dahlonega Jaycees, The Lumpkin County Touchdown Club and the North Georgia Nighthawks Club Association. Dr. McConnell currently serves on the University of North Georgia Research Foundation, University of North Georgia Foundation and the University of North Georgia Real Estate Foundation. In November of 2015, Dr. McConnell was awarded the Judy Wilder Lifetime Achievement award by the Board of Regents, Office of Facilities.

Mac enjoys playing music, working with young people and travel.