Category: Thought Leadership
-
💼 10 Ways CFOs Can Be the Cabinet’s Best Ally
The best thing I learned when I became a CFO?You can’t lead from spreadsheets alone. To move the mission forward, you need to be more than the person who says “no.” You need to be a true partner—to the Provost, the VP of Enrollment, Advancement, Student Affairs, and beyond. Here are 10 ways CFOs can… Read more
-
🔬 7 Questions to Ask When Research Funding Is Cut
I remember when I first learned that NIH would cap its IDC rate at 15%. I sat with the leadership team to assess our exposure, understand the ripple effects, and figure out how to mitigate the impact. Research funding cuts hit hard—and they force tough decisions. But they can also spark clarity, collaboration, and strategic… Read more
-
📉 Resilient, Not Reactive: New Federal Reality, Same Mission
Shrinking federal funding. A looming demographic cliff. Shifts in student aid policy. Rising operational costs. Higher ed is under pressure—and too many institutions are reacting, not preparing. Here are 5 critical strategies to help your institution stay solvent, agile, and mission-aligned in this new policy era: 1. Know and Use Your Financial Levers Control what… Read more
-
🎓 10 Things I Wish I Knew as a First-Time University CFO
In February 2020, I moved to New York to take on my first University CFO role—just weeks before the pandemic hit. I was excited, but the weight was real: leading through crisis, managing risk, ensuring compliance, and safeguarding the institution’s future. Looking back, here’s what I wish I had known walking in: 1. You’re a… Read more