We’re thrilled to welcome NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shield to the show this week. Jeff has worked tirelessly to ensure that this upcoming annual meeting is the best yet, and shares not only a fantastic origin story of the association, but offers welcomed insight around the importance of the business officer in the tight knit independent school community, and the challenges they face in collaborative work across their campuses.
82: UMass Lowell Provost Ahmed Abdelal on Building Collaboration from Competition in Academic Leadership
Over the last year, we’ve returned to the topic of administrative and academic collaboration a number of times. Our lesson: successful change projects are the result of academic leaders and administrative leaders working in concert with one another.
This week we welcome Dr. Ahmed Abdelal, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at UMass Lowell. His work provides a framework for the structure and culture that makes for a collaborative leadership model that transcends competition and gridlock.
This week on the show, Provost Abdelal joins Howard Teibel and Pete Wright to reflect on his philosophy around academic leadership and his successes in working toward respectful and reciprocal leadership across the institution.
About Ahmed Abdelal
As Provost, Ahmed Abdelal serves as the chief academic officer, overseeing long-term planning, curriculum, instruction, research, outreach and assessment, libraries and academic services. In his role, he is also a member of the Chancellor's Executive Cabinet. Prior to joining UMass Lowell, Abdelal served as Provost of Northeastern University ('02-'08), and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University ('92 -'02).
Notes & Links
Provost Abdelal references the UMass Lowell 2020 Report Card. You can find the 2014 report here.
Photo: Terageorge
81: Exceptional Group Decision-Making
Howard Teibel
Creating a culture adept at group decision making is one of the great leadership challenges. It requires alignment in the face of personal stakes on the team, political motivations, individual belief systems and ego. It requires individual contributors to have a keen ability to listen, and an even deeper ability to dig into a key question that is almost never asked, but may be the most important question for team processing: Why are we doing this? This week on Navigating Change, Howard Teibel illuminates the decision making process for teams, shares his own insights for making difficult decisions, and creating teams that do the same.
80: How the Struggle for Perfection can Stifle the Team
Howard Teibel
For those who live with it, perfectionism can be a powerful tool for creating great work, or a blunt force impeding forward motion. In either case, we often refer to perfectionist traits as profoundly personal, a set of behaviors that impacts us, but that we confidently stow away when teams are involved. The truth: the team is an organism made of individuals. And as individuals, we bring all our behaviors with us. It is the collection of individual traits that determines the identity of the teams in which we work.
This week on the show, Howard Teibel and Pete Wright unravel the nature of perfectionism on teams. From our common understanding of team norms to how this drive toward perfection can hinder the discovery of key insights that can live in the gap between awareness and action.
79: How do you Transition from Sage to Guide?
Howard Teibel
As leaders, it’s critical that we engage change on our campuses with enthusiasm, curiosity, and courage. Our teams are counting it, as are our extended constituencies — students, parents, and our community at large. In our efforts to engage with enthusiasm, our first and most important challenge is to embrace our own ignorance.
This week on the show, Howard Teibel and Pete Wright discuss the key tenets of process consultation, and offer guidance for asking tough questions of our own assumptions in our work to drive change in our institutions.
Links & Notes
78: Regional Leaders on Regional Challenges in Higher Ed — Live from EACUBO 2014
This week on Navigating Change we’re coming to you once again from the EACUBO 2014 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Speakers at the conference have been taking on some of the most challenging issues facing chief business officers in higher education. This week, we’re joined by all four regional CUBO presidents for a conversation on the challenges they’re facing in their regions. From dropping high school populations to a changing demographic landscape to dramatically declining state subsidies, each region is working hard to ensure their members are prepared to face tomorrow’s challenges today.
Our Guests
Regional Presidents, Associations of College and University Business Officers
Michael Gower, EACUBO
Senior Vice President, Finance & Tresurer
Rutgers University
Harold Hewitt, WACUBO
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Chapman University
Mary Lou Merkt, SACUBO
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Furman University
Kathy Qualls, CACUBO
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Finance & Administrative Affairs
University of Cincinnati
77: Strategic Leadership at EACUBO 2014 with Marta Perez Drake and Lynne Schaefer
This week on Navigating Change we’re coming to you from the EACUBO 2014 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Speakers at the conference have been taking on some of the most challenging issues facing chief business officers in higher education. We’re kicking off our EACUBO series with two people who serve as leaders in the effort to prepare CBOs for the demands of tomorrow’s institutions.
Marta Perez Drake, Vice President for Professional Development — NACUBO
Lynne Schaefer, Vice President for Administration — University of Maryland Baltimore County
Lynne Schaefer is vice president for finance and administration at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and currently serves as EACUBO vice chair. Marta Perez Drake serves as vice president for professional development for NACUBO. This week on the show, Lynne and Marta join Howard Teibel and Pete Wright to share their work in developing CBOs as strategic leaders prepared for broader challenges beyond the typical expectations of the office.
Our special thanks to all who turned out to join us at this special live event in Orlando, and to the EACUBO team that helped to make this happen!
About Lynne C. Schaefer
Lynn Schaefer has served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) since 2005. In her role as chief business officer at UMBC, she is responsible for financial management, budget, reporting and control for annual operations exceeding $390 million. She also provides leadership for facilities planning, construction and operations, human resources, environmental safety and health, dining services, the bookstore, campus police, and general business services. Ms. Schaefer previously served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and as Budget Director and Vice President for Administrative Services at Wayne State University in Detroit. Ms. Schaefer began her career in state government in Michigan, and worked in the Governor’s Office, Departments of Management and Budget and Treasury, and as President of the Michigan Education Trust. She holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Wayne State University, and a B.A. from Michigan State University.
Marta Perez Drake, NACUBO
Marta Perez Drake has served as vice president for professional development of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) since 2010. Prior to assuming this position, Perez Drake served NACUBO for six years as Director of Constituent Programs. Before joining NACUBO, Perez Drake worked at Duke University, Georgetown University and three higher education associations: the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), the American Council on Education (ACE), and the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE). Perez Drake has served on several boards in the higher education, K-12, and non-profit sectors. She received her bachelor's degree from Duke University and master’s degree from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.
76: Strategic Leadership and Big Change at Loyola Part 3 — VP of Administration Terry Sawyer
Terrence Sawyer, J.D., Vice President of Administration — Loyola University Maryland
This week on Navigating Change we conclude our three-part series in which we share the administrative and academic review from the inside out. Our final guest is Terry Sawyer, Vice President of Administration at Loyola University Maryland, and it was under his guidance as co-chair of the "New Way Of Proceeding" committee that deep investigation into institutional operations occurred. Terry’s role in senior administration, in partnership with his colleague and faculty co-chair Steve Fowl, put him in an ideal position to support challenging initiatives and difficult solutions across the institution.
This week, Terry shares his insights on the academic and administrative review from the administrative perspective, and how we were able to form a partnership to deliver both financial and cultural benefits to Loyola Maryland.
About Terrence Sawyer, J.D.
Terrence Sawyer became vice president for administration in 2004 after six years as special assistant to the president for government and community relations and trustee affairs. Prior to joining Loyola, Sawyer served as a director at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. A 1992 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Sawyer earned his juris doctor from Widener University in 1995. Sawyer currently leads the University's government and community relations offices, and oversees trustee affairs and the departments of public safety, environmental health and safety, transportation and parking, and human resources. Sawyer also serves as an affiliate faculty member in the department of law and social responsibility.
75: Building Outstanding Consulting Partnerships
Howard Teibel
When navigating complex change initiatives, there may come a time when your team will face the challenge of calling on outside support for expertise, guidance, and potentially even leadership as you cruise uncertain institutional waters. How do you engage the right support, at the right time, in the right capacity?
This week on Navigating Change, Howard Teibel shares his experience in building outstanding relationships with external consultants as a consultant himself. From setting clear boundaries for communication, to taking on key strategic responsibilities, Howard’s insights offer a keen view into what makes a consultative partnership valuable in achieving the strategic goals of the institution.
74: The Academic’s View in the Administrative Review at Loyola Maryland Part 2 — Professor Steve Fowl
This week on Navigating Change we continue our three-part series in which we share the administrative and academic review from the inside out. Our second guest is professor Steve Fowl of Loyola University Maryland, and it was under his guidance as co-chair of the "New Way Of Proceeding" committee that deep investigation into institutional operations occurred. Steve’s role as chair of the faculty senate at the time made him the perfect representative in the review process.
This week, Steve shares his insights on the academic and administrative review from the faculty perspective, and how we were able to form a partnership to deliver both financial and cultural benefits to Loyola Maryland.
About Stephen Fowl
Stephen Fowl is professor of theology at Loyola College in Maryland. He holds the Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield (England). He has written several books including Reading in Communion (with L. Gregory Jones), Engaging Scripture and a forthcoming commentary on Philippians. He has edited several volumes including The Theological Interpretation of Scripture. He has written widely on topics in New Testament, ethics and theology. Fowl is an Episcopal layperson.
73: Gail Gregory on Strategic Communication at CACUBO Annual Meeting
The Central Association of College and University Business Officer’s Annual Meeting is coming up fast — October 5-7, Kansas City will play host to central region change leaders and business officers addressing the crossroads of higher education.
Gail Gregory will be on-site at the conference delivering her presentation, “Communicating Financial Information Effectively.” This week on the show, Gail joins Pete Wright to share her perspective on strategic communication and the evolving role and responsibility of the business officer, with a great review of the big events coming up this weekend. Listen in!
72: The Administrative and Academic Review at Loyola Maryland Part 1 — CFO Randy Gentzler
Randall D. Gentzler, Vice President of Finance — Loyola University Maryland
This week on Navigating Change we begin a three-part series to share the administrative and academic review from the inside out. Our first guest is Vice President of Finance of Loyola University Maryland Randy Gentzler, and it was under his guidance that the project ensured its focus not only on ideas for change consistent with mission but also ones that would have a positive financial impact.
As the chief business officer, Randy describes the project from its inception to deal with the short-term operating budget as well as defining a new model of financial success. Randy and Howard share their experience working as true partners in this project and offer key learnings for getting the most out of this unique relationship.
About Randall D. Gentzler
Randall Gentzler joined Loyola University Maryland in May 2011 and serves as the University’s chief financial and investment officer. He provides senior leadership and direction to the major operating divisions of financial services, technology services, and facilities and campus services. He joined Loyola from Philadelphia University where he held the position of vice president for finance and administration/treasurer since 1995. He received his MBA from Philadelphia University; his B.S. in Accounting from Elizabethtown College; and attended Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM).
71: UNE's Nicole Trufant on Communicating for Clarity at EACUBO 2014
There are two fundamental considerations when communicating complex information from the business office. First, do you have the right data for your audience. Second, are you communicating that data using the right tools. Our special guest Nicole Trufant has been polishing her communications practice from the business office as Vice President for Fiscal Affairs at University of New England Next month, Nicole will join Howard Teibel on stage at the EACUBO 2014 Annual Meeting in Orlando as presenting, “Communicating Strategically to Make and Impact.”
This week on the show, Nicole joins Howard and Pete Wright to discuss how the role and responsibility of the business officer has changed in the last decade, and shares insights into her daily work to support her president, administration, faculty, students and parents across the institution.
Join the Teibel Team at the EACUBO 2014 Annual Meeting! We'll be recording live at the Cheers Reception on Monday evening, October 20. Come by and join the conversation, share your insights with Howard and Pete, and have a few well-earned laughs at the end of a long day of learning!
About Nicole L. Labbe-Trufant
Nicole Trufant serves as the Vice President for Fiscal Affairs at the University of New England (UNE). UNE was named as the 9th fastest Master's growing institution in the country by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Nicole leads all functional areas of finance and general accounting, resource planning and budget, human resources, legal affairs, student financial services and information technology services. Nicole is a CPA. She holds a BS in Accounting and BA in Sociology from the University of Southern Maine, an MSM in Management from New England College and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education Institute of Executive Management.
70: Canisius College President John Hurley on Leadership, Strategy, and Communication
Last week, Canisius College President John Hurley welcomed faculty, students, and staff to the 2014-15 academic year at the school’s convocation event. In his speech, he outlined a vision for college success by way of three key areas: Redefinition — understanding what it means to be a student-centered institution; Revitalization — embracing new approaches to the academic model; and Innovation — evolving the business model to support a more agile institution.
This week on Navigating Change, President Hurley joins Howard Teibel and Pete Wright to reflect on his role as he begins his fifth year of service. He shares his approach to building trust in times of challenge, the critical importance of communication, and building support and understanding across a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff.
President Hurley offers candid insight into his role and it’s many opportunities and challenges.
About John Hurley
John J. Hurley has been the President at Canisius College since July 1, 2010. Mr. Hurley served as Executive Vice President and Vice President of College Relations at Canisius College since 2007 and 1997 respectively.
Prior to Canisius, Mr. Hurley practiced law for 16 years. He concentrated his practice in the areas of secured lending, bankruptcy and insolvency, creditors’ rights and acquisitions of troubled companies. He is also chair the Bishop’s Council on the Laity for Bishop Kmiec. Mr. Hurley is a past member of the city of Buffalo’s Charter Revision Commission and past president of the St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institue Board of Trustees. He also serves as a Trustee at Canisius College.
He is the recipient of the 2002 Canisius College Distinguished Alumnus Award, which recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers. Mr. Hurley is also a recipient of the college’s LaSalle Medal (1996), the highest honor conferred upon an alumna/us for service to alma mater, and was inducted into the Signum Fidei Society of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (1998). He is a 1978 alumnus of Canisius College.
A native of Buffalo, Mr. Hurley graduated from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore and earned a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in English and history from Canisius College. He was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame School of Law, where he earned a juris doctor degree in 1981.
69: Building Trust and the Higher Ed Business Model with EACUBO Chair Michael Gower
J. Michael Gower — SVP, Finance & EACUBO Chair
This week on Navigating Change, we’re thrilled to have friend of the show, Michael Gower. Michael currently serves as senior vice president of finance at Rutgers University and chair of EACUBO — he joins us on the show this week to share his insights on building trust, technology, and the forces impacting the changing business model in higher eduction.
The EACUBO Annual Meeting 2014 will be held in Orlando October 19-22. Michael and the EACUBO leadership team are leading a shift in the approach to the annual conference with new presentation models and events designed to give financial leaders the the tools they need to build trust and deliver on the mission of their institutions.
Hot news! Howard and Pete will be hosting Navigating Change Unplugged live on Monday, October 20 at the conference. If you’re going to be in Orlando, join us in person — details coming soon!
About J. Michael Gower
J. Michael Gower, a financial planning expert with more than thirty years’ experience in university and medical school business management, is the senior vice president for finance at Rutgers University. In that capacity he directs the financial management and planning activities of the university, collaborating with leaders from the campuses, schools, and administrative units.
Gower is the chair of the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers and a member of the board of directors of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, higher education’s leading professional organization for chief business and financial officers.
68: Linda Penland talks Shared Services, Communication, and Unimarket NOW!
Howard Teibel will be joining the ranks of presenters at the Unimarket NOW user conference in Nashville October 22-24. To help us get ready, event co-chair Linda Penland joins us today with all the details. Linda has been a Unimarket customer since she lead the project to roll out shared services at her own institution, Creighton University. Today on the show, we talk about the challenges of such an audacious project, the hard work of communication and establishing cultural buy-in to new processes, and building excitement and momentum around important ideas.
67: The Future of Education with Grant Lichtman — Part 2
Part two in our Grant Lichtman interview picks up with the political challenges that erupt in districts across the country. In the face of these challenges are schools making the change required to live up to the promise of true innovation in education. We reflect on the shared challenges of broken business models — both in K-12 and higher education — and the responsibility leaders have in owning positive change in the classroom.
66: The Future of Education with Grant Lichtman — Part 1
Grant Lichtman has quickly become one of the foremost thinkers and advocates for innovation in the classroom. His latest book, #EdJourney: A Roadmap to the Future of Education, documents his 3-month journey across the United States, interviewing teachers, administrators, students, parents, and trustees to examine innovation in the K-12 classroom.
65: Amir Rahnamay-Azar on Collaborative Leadership at Carnegie Mellon
Dr. Amir Rahnamay-Azar, Vice President & CFO, Carnegie Mellon University
Seasoned business officer Amir Rahnamay-Azar joins us on the show this week to share his leadership practices as a new member of the Carnegie Mellon University leadership team. Just celebrating his 1-year anniversary, Amir has developed a strategic plan for his division, illuminating the objectives shared by the institution and how his operation contributes to achieving them. His process for encouraging buy-in and developing a collaborative leadership relationship with the provost is a true highlight of his work, and we encourage you to listen in as Howard Teibel and Pete Wright learn how Amir is shepherding the entrepreneurial into his administrative office.
About Dr. Amir Rahnamay-Azar
Amir Rahnamay-Azar is the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to serving as CFO, Dr. Rahnamay-Azar was Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In his role at Georgia Tech, Dr. Rahnamay-Azar managed a wide range of functions, such as the institute’s overall budget, capital planning and space management, institutional research and planning, organizational development, sustainability, real estate development, and financial services. From 1999 to 2010, Amir was at USC and rose through the ranks from Staff Associate and Associate Director of Operations in the Office of Budget and Planning, to Associate Senior Vice President for Operations in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Administration. Amir earned his Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, and his MBA and bachelor’s degree in business administration from the California State University, Sacramento.
64: John Walda on the changing role of leadership in Higher Education — Part 2
John Walda, President & CEO of NACUBO
NACUBO President John Walda joins the roundtable this week to share reflections on the NACUBO Annual Meeting 2014 in Seattle and the role of the conference in defining and supporting business officers in their work. In part two of our conversation, we discuss the importance of clarity and function of the business model to higher education, and John outlines a recently-approved research project in which NACUBO will study the impacts of business model weakness. John and Howard share insights around the changing expectations of student achievement in higher education. Finally, John shares his thoughts on the coming year for NACUBO and his role in leading the organization’s public policy initiatives.
About John Walda
John D. Walda is the President and CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) in Washington, D.C., where he has served since 2006. He served as president of the Indiana University Board of Trustees, as chair of the Indiana Lottery Commission, as a director and chair of the Association of Governing Boards, and as chair of the Board of Clarian Health Partners (now Indiana University Health). He is a member and past-chair of the Steering Committee for the Washington Higher Education Secretariat, a past Director for the American Council on Education, a director of the Indiana University Foundation and a trustee for Carroll College. Before coming to NACUBO, Walda was a partner in the law firm Bose McKinney & Evans in Indianapolis and was Senior Vice President - Federal Relations for Bose Treacy Associates LLC. Walda has been a member of the American, Montana and Indiana State Bar Associations; American Inns of Court (Master of the Bench); American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow); NCAA Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics; AAU Council on Federal Relations; and NASULGC Council on Government Relations. He is on the Board of Directors for the Yellowstone Park Foundation. Walda received both his BA (1972) and JD (1975) from Indiana University. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in May 2011.