Investing in Student Success: Loyola University Maryland CBO John Coppola on Meeting Evolving Needs
Release Date: 01/05/2024
Students First, Always: A Leadership Journey with Lafayette College CBO Audra Kahr
CBO Speaks
Audra Kahr is executive vice president for finance and administration at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. In this episode, Kahr joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss her journey from private sector accounting to higher education leadership, building exceptional teams, and creating a legacy focused on student success. "Leadership is about really taking everything you've encountered throughout your life and making it come to life in better ways. As leaders, we fail all the time. We don't always get the right answer," Kahr says. This philosophy shapes how she approaches team...
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The Heart of Higher Ed Finance: Building Trust-Based Teams with Brooklyn College CBO Alan Gilbert
CBO Speaks
Alan Gilbert is senior vice president for finance and administration at Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York system in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, Gilbert joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss leading through transformative times, building trust-based organizational culture, and adapting higher education to meet evolving student needs. "Be yourself is the most important thing," Gilbert says. His authentic leadership style has shaped his approach to managing teams and institutional challenges. "If you don't love students and you don't get the energy from...
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The Modern CBO: Expanding Beyond Finance with Forsyth Technical Community College CBO Kizzy Lea
CBO Speaks
Kizzy Lea is chief financial and operations officer at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, Lea joins host Melissa Farley to discuss leadership evolution beyond finance, embracing operational innovation, and creating student-centered institutional impact. "Get comfortable wearing multiple hats—it's not just about finance anymore. Technical skills are just the foundation," Lea says, offering guidance to emerging higher education leaders. "Your credibility will be shaped as much by how you lead people as how you manage the dollar." She...
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Data Meets Mission: Transforming Higher Ed Finance with Xavier University CBO Kevan Buck
CBO Speaks
Kevan Buck, president of finance and administration and chief financial officer, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Melissa Farley to discuss mission-driven leadership, embracing innovation, and creating meaningful student experiences in higher education. "It really comes down to one thing and that's students. If you're on a campus when the kids arrive in the fall and you walk out and you just feel the excitement of the students and the families, it's pretty amazing," Buck says. Having served in higher education finance for over 40 years, he emphasizes the importance of...
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Passing the Mic: Meet Melissa Farley
CBO Speaks
In this special transition episode of CBO Speaks, longtime host Donna Schiele welcomes incoming host Melissa Farley, former corporate journalist with USA Today Network and current host of The Morning Show in Arizona. "I'm really excited to uncover the stories behind the titles," Farley says. "I want to understand not just what our guests do, but how they think, what motivates them, and the lessons they've learned along the way." Join us for this milestone conversation as Farley shares her vision for diving into the human side of higher education leadership and exploring the...
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Strategic Storytelling in Finance: University of Puget Sound CBO Kimberly Kvaal on Communicating Complex Change
CBO Speaks
Kimberly Kvaal is executive vice president and vice president for administration and finance at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. In this episode, Kvaal joins our host Donna Schiele to discuss finding purpose in higher education leadership, the power of mentorship in career development, and innovative approaches to financial sustainability in modern universities. "I think now more than ever for the CBO, it is important to be able to tell the story about why the business model doesn't work and attract supporters for the necessary steps that we need to take to sustain...
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Growth and Strategic Scale: Texas A&M University CBO John Crawford on Stewarding Financial Success
CBO Speaks
John Crawford is vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. In this episode, Crawford joins our host Donna Schiele to discuss following in his father's CPA footsteps, managing Texas A&M's massive $2.5 billion budget during a tuition freeze, and navigating the evolving landscape of higher education finance. "I think evaluating the P3 [public-private partnership] opportunities is crucial," Crawford says, highlighting the importance of strategic financial management in modern higher education. "We as a leadership team...
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Mission-Driven Management: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee CBO Robin Van Harpen on Leading Through Change
CBO Speaks
Robin Van Harpen is senior vice chancellor for finance and administrative affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In this episode, Van Harpen joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about transitioning from legal counsel to CFO leadership, navigating institutional financial challenges, and fostering an environment where talent can thrive. "Leadership in higher education is not easy. It's not for the faint of heart. And that’s not going to change," Van Harpen says, reflecting on the realities of higher education leadership. "But I think it is worth it....
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Data-Driven Turnaround: Transforming Institutional Finance with Northern Kentucky University CBO Christopher Calvert
CBO Speaks
Christopher Calvert is chief financial officer and vice president of administration and finance at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. In this episode, Calvert joins our host Donna Schiele to discuss his journey from private sector finance to higher education leadership, implementing data-driven financial strategies, and navigating the evolving landscape of institutional finance. "One of the things that I did learn as I've gone through the various progressions of my career is just learning how to be strategic, learning how to communicate strategy," Calvert says,...
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Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Today's Chief Business Officers
CBO Speaks
The fifth edition of the National Profile of Higher Education Chief Business Officers, released last year, offers crucial insights into the career paths, responsibilities, and aspirations of CBOs across the country. In this special crossover episode between CBO Speaks and NACUBO in Brief, host Donna Schiele and NACUBO's Bryan Dickson explore the Profile's findings with Nicole Long, chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and Peter Elliott, vice president for administrative services at South Florida State College in...
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