CUA in Search of New Treasurer for Spring 2016
By Chris Woodside
Have you ever wondered what happens once your check leaves your home
or bank and comes to Catholic University every semester to pay your
tuition? Most likely, the funds that come from your tuition check will
be distributed and overseen by the Treasurer. Knowing how much money
universities are responsible for handling, the treasurer is no
position to take lightly. Currently, however, the position of
Treasurer for Catholic University is currently in a bit of a
transition period.
Previously serving in the role of the Vice President for Finance and
the Treasurer, Cathy Wood stepped down from her post at the end of the
last academic year to pursue a new opportunity as the Senior Vice
President for Financial Affairs and Chief Financial Officer at the
Florida Institute of Technology, a post she began serving on August
15, according to the official news source of Florida Tech.
Currently serving in the role as the interim Vice President of Finance
and Treasurer is Robert Specter. Previously Specter served as the Vice
President for Administration and Finance for the University of
Maryland and oversaw the revitalization of the College Park
neighborhood surrounding the University. Over the past few years,
Catholic Univerity has been witness to the revitalization of our own
neighborhood here in Brookland, which the Monroe Street Markets have
been a testament to.
Specter will presumably continue serving in the role as interim Vice
President of Finance and Treasurer until the search is completed for
someone to take over the position permanently. In a job listing from
the Catholic University of America Human Resources website, the
University is advertising the desire to have the Vice President begin
service by January 1, 2016 just in time for the beginning of the
Spring Semester.
The job listing also highlights some of the responsibilities of taking
on this position, as the Vice President will have the “responsibility
for the development and management of an operating budget of $214
million,” in addition to the University endowment of $305 million
dollars.
The Spring Semester is not too far away from now, and many people may
be wondering exactly how far along the search is for a permanent
Treasurer. According to the job listing, the search committee for this
position will not begin reviewing applications until October 15, and
will continue until an appointment as been made. The search committee
is being led by the Vice President of Student Affairs, Michael Allen.
“An extensive experience with finance and budgeting is certainly
necessary,” said senior Philosophy major, Spencer Horn. “I think it
will also be important that whoever takes over this position has
experience working in a University setting and the unique financial
responsibilities that come with that.”
Spencer also shared his belief that the new treasurer should be an
external candidate, new to the Catholic University community, because
“the University would benefit from a fresh perspective on how best to
handle finances going forward.”
Nevertheless, with the application reviews beginning in just under a
month, students can look forward to receiving an email in the next
couple of months from Victor Nakas on who will be the newest member of
President Garvey’s administration.
