University Hires New Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
By Stephen J. Fasulo II
Since the end of the last academic year, the Catholic University of America has been without a proper Vice President of Finance and Treasurer. Carly Wood, who formerly held the position stepped down in August 2015 leading many to worry during the first semester of the 2015-2016 school year about the financial stability of the University, after all, the money from every tuition check sent to the University eventually goes through the Treasurer.
President Garvey announced over the 2015-2016 winter holiday that the position of Vice President for Finance and the position of the Treasurer would go to Robert M. Specter, who has held the position temporarily since August 2015. This is in line with a statement made in a job listing from the Catholic University of America Human Resources website where the University advertised the desire to have the Vice President begin service by January 1, 2016.
According to an e-mail sent by University administration, “Specter has served in senior finance leadership positions at a number of higher education institutions since 1994. Prior to joining Catholic University, Specter served as Vice President for Administration and Finance and in a subsequent advisory role to the president at the University of Maryland from 2011 to 2014.”
The email continues, stating Specter’s involvement in several plans of improvement and details about financial successes under his tenure at the University of Maryland, which included mentions of improvement in conduct, along with financially preparing for the Maryland teams move to the Big Ten Conference, and improvements to the Route 1 Corridor in College Park, Maryland.
President John Garvey said in the announcement of Specter’s appointment, “Rob Specter has had a profound impact on Catholic University’s Finance Division during his time as our interim Vice President. I’m delighted that he will now be a permanent member of the University’s leadership team. I know he will continue to make a positive impact and will help us to advance our mission.”
Specter himself said, “I am very pleased to become part of President Garvey’s strong leadership team. The Catholic University community has welcomed me warmly, and I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to its continuing growth and success.”
The responsibilities of the Vice President of Finances and Treasurer will be oversight for most of the University’s activities, and according to the announcement by the University “Specter will oversee finance and accounting, human resources, business services, procurement, auxiliary enterprises, information services, budget, audit, investments, institutional planning and research, as well as facilities planning, maintenance and operations.”
Unfortunately, the state of student awareness of the activities of the Vice President of Finances is not at the level it should be.
“I don’t understand much about what they do,” said Joe Corbett, a senior Economics major. When asked about what he hoped would happen as a result of the new appointment of Specter, he said “I hope they’re more transparent, and inform the students of any large financial and structural changes.”
Hopefully, the student body will be kept updated on the state of finances within the future.
