CBO Speaks
CBO Speaks from NACUBO showcases our most seasoned CBO colleagues from top institutions around the country as they share stories of their journey as business officers. Their experiences inspire us and show us what's possible in our own work.
Episodes
Brian Burnett is executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In this episode, Burnett joins host Melissa Farley to talk about his unconventional path from a Colorado state budget analyst to chief financial officer at five different universities, why he's convinced patience beats fast decisions under pressure, and the Finance Academy model he's built at...
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Sharron Scott is the chief financial and operating officer for the Vermont State Colleges in Montpelier, Vermont. In this episode, Scott joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating one of public higher education's most visible financial crises, making the case for radical transparency with boards and stakeholders, and how a systems-thinking mindset shaped her approach to institutional transformation.
"Protect...
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Rich Kelley is chief financial officer at New England College of Optometry in Boston. In this episode, Kelley joins host Melissa Farley to talk about the leadership philosophy he calls transparent accountability, the financial planning challenges facing tuition-dependent institutions, and the lasting value of mentorship and professional networks in higher education.
"I started to realize that the more important skil...
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Bryan Swarthout is vice president for finance and administration at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. In this episode, Swarthout joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating the transition from corporate finance to higher education, leading with influence and servant leadership, and managing a broad institutional portfolio with strategic intentionality.
"Be open to opportunities—you never know wh...
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February 6, 2026 • 41 mins
Carla Hoʻā is vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. In this episode, Hoʻā joins host Melissa Farley to talk about building organizational resilience, leading through complexity, and transforming higher education through relationship-centered leadership.
"The role of the CBO has changed over time... moving from a more transactional l...
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Chris Gardner is chief financial officer at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In this episode, Gardner joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss the evolving role of higher education CFOs, building authentic leadership through relationship-focused management, and navigating institutional identity in challenging times.
"I want people to hopefully feel like they could approach me, that I could be a partne...
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November 21, 2025 • 44 mins
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 ...
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November 7, 2025 • 48 mins
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," Gilb...
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October 24, 2025 • 40 mins
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 ...
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October 10, 2025 • 39 mins
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...
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September 12, 2025 • 5 mins
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 a...
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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 t...
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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-priv...
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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. I...
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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...
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February 21, 2025 • 37 mins
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 fi...
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Abby Benson is vice president for administration and finance at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. In this episode, Benson joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about her diverse career path, the importance of curiosity and transparency in leadership, and the unique challenges and opportunities facing higher education today.
"I would say that curiosity is really important. I think always being...
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January 24, 2025 • 26 mins
Carmen Roberts is the executive director of operations at Great Falls College Montana State University in Great Falls, Montana. In this episode, Roberts joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about her journey to becoming a higher education leader, the challenges and opportunities in operations management, and the importance of fostering collaboration among diverse teams.
"Don't be afraid to take on something that's ...
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Brian Lueth is vice president for finance and business at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In this episode, Lueth joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about his journey from public accounting to higher education, the importance of effective communication in conveying financial information, and strategies for maintaining affordability and access for students.
"I always try to start the conv...
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December 6, 2024 • 22 mins
Michelle Matis is vice president of finance and CFO at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg, Florida. In this episode, Matis joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about her career path in higher education finance, managing financial health during challenging times, and the importance of collaboration and transparency.
"I always try to instill that with my team first, that we're going to be transparent. It's helpful...
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