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 what project, role, or skill you could build through a new experience that will be the one to help you advance throughout your career," Swarthout says. He urges aspiring finance leaders to experiment, stretch beyond comfort zones, and invest time in learning the full breadth of the organizations they serve. "Build those relationships because they will serve the work that you do very well, as well as your career." Swarthout goes on to discuss how relationship-building is the connective tissue of effective higher ed finance leadership—enabling the trust and influence that moves people and institutions in the same direction. Join us for a conversation with Swarthout as he discusses leveraging AI as both an efficiency tool and a team-building opportunity, applying a mission-first framework to high-stakes financial decisions, and mentoring the next generation of higher education finance leaders. Check out NACUBO' other podcasts!

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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 leadership to a strategic level of leadership," Hoʻā says. She emphasizes that modern higher education finance leaders must be catalysts who get out of their offices to find paths forward for their organizations. "We cannot be passive leaders in this space. We have to be catalysts for our organizations." Join us for a conversation with Hoʻā as she discusses navigating institutional scale, implementing AI in administrative systems, building trust through shared governance, and creating lasting organizational impact through people-centered leadership. Links

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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 partner in whatever situation they were navigating. The CFO or business office can very easily get the reputation of being the office of 'no'," Gardner says, reflecting on the legacy he hopes to leave. "I would much rather be known as the office of 'I'm not sure, but let's try and figure it out.'" Gardner emphasizes the importance of partnership and creative problem-solving in financial leadership. Join us for a conversation with Gardner as he discusses implementing major technology transitions at a small institution, maintaining institutional identity in a changing higher education landscape, and developing the next generation of financial leaders through mentorship and empowerment. Links

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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 building and institutional growth. "What I will do is own it if I get it wrong. I will be honest. I've lived my career by the values that I set early on, and I think if you demonstrate that for your team they can then emulate that." Join us for a conversation with Kahr as she shares insights on managing diverse responsibilities, adapting to higher education's changing landscape, and maintaining a student-centered approach to financial leadership. Links

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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 the students, you can't be a CBO. It's all about the students." Join us for a conversation with Gilbert as he talks about navigating the pandemic's challenges, implementing AI responsibly in higher education, and creating a legacy through mentorship and institutional improvement. Links

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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 emphasizes the value of diverse experience—from facilities management to crisis response. Join us for a conversation with Lea as she shares insights on implementing artificial intelligence in community colleges, navigating state budget uncertainties, and transforming campus spaces to enhance learning experiences. Links

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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 understanding both the business and human aspects of institutional operations. "It's really about the students and about the mission of education." Join us for a conversation with Buck as he shares insights about launching Xavier's new College of Osteopathic Medicine, navigating demographic challenges in higher education, and finding work-life balance in demanding leadership roles. He also discusses how the role of CFO has evolved to become more integrated across university operations, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and why maintaining focus on student success remains critical for institutional leadership. Links

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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 challenges and solutions shaping the industry. This episode marks the conclusion of Schiele's tenure and launches Season 12 of 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 our institutions," Kvaal says. This perspective comes from nearly three decades of experience in higher education finance. "It's that ability to be able to communicate technical information, complicated information clearly to be open to providing feedback and building relationships because so much of the work that we do is through building support across campus." She emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong relationships while navigating difficult financial decisions. Join us for a conversation with Kvaal as she shares insights about managing a $110 million operating budget, creating strategic partnerships for revenue generation, and balancing institutional mission with financial strategy. Links

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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-private partnership] opportunities is crucial," Crawford says, highlighting the importance of strategic financial management in modern higher education. "We as a leadership team just have to be more strategic in how we approach things." Crawford emphasizes how universities must adapt to new funding realities while maintaining public confidence and institutional growth. Join us for a conversation with Crawford as he shares insights about centralizing financial operations across campus, balancing infrastructure investments with affordable tuition, and the vital role of professional organizations like NACUBO and SACUBO in developing higher education finance leaders. Links

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