Finalists for Vice President for Finance and Planning

Paul Dworkis

Vice President for Administration and Finance and CFO, Emerson College

Paul Dworkis joined Emerson in December 2019, serving as the College’s chief financial officer and overseeing Finance, Financial Business Services, Facilities, Construction, Real Estate, Human Resources, Media and Technology and Emerson College Polling, and previously the Campus Police and the General Counsel's office. His diverse experience spans more than 40 years in higher education, publishing, and banking, including leadership roles in finance, operations, technology, international business, facilities, benefits, research administration and business services. Prior to Emerson, Mr. Dworkis served as the Associate Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) since 2013. He created efficiencies across UMD that resulted in several strategic implementations and upgrades to the University's Budget Model. Mr. Dworkis also previously served as the Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration at Columbia University, where he directed the finance, administrative, and human resource functions, and served as the Chief Financial Officer within the Student and Administrative Services division and for the University-wide fringe benefits programs. Before working in higher education, he spent the earlier part of his career within news and media organizations, including Newsweek, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with world-wide responsibilities. Mr. Dworkis holds a MS in Accounting from Baruch College and a BS in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is especially proud of having served for 15 years as a board member, including 9 as President of the Board, of the Banyan School, a New Jersey-based school for children and young adults with learning disabilities.

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Dr. Glen Nelson

Former Vice President for Administration and Finance and CFO, California State University - Monterey Bay

Dr. Glen Nelson has worked in higher education for twenty-seven years holding senior leadership positions at the system, university and college levels.  These institutions include Arizona State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Idaho State University, the University of Wisconsin System, the Oregon University System, and the Arizona Board of Regents where he served as the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration. He most recently served as the Vice President for Administration and Finance/CFO at California State University Monterey Bay.  Glen has successfully led higher education initiatives generating over $100 million of new resources through the implementation of process improvements, improved asset utilization, management of debt instruments, and the creation of new lines of revenue through collaborations with community partners. He began his career working in a variety of management positions within finance, accounting, and IT for several Fortune 500 companies and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Dr. Nelson earned a Ph.D. in educational studies with a specialization in educational leadership and higher education from the University of Nebraska, holds an MBA from the Arizona State University Thunderbird School of Global Management, and an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

As an academician, he has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses for over twenty years.  Dr. Nelson was a Research Professor of Higher Education at Idaho State University and held an affiliate appointment at the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE). His research is focused on the unintended consequences of administrative actions such as differential tuition and tuition transparency on access and choices made by first generation students and those from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. He is a co-founder of the Affordability and Transparency Initiative, a joint research collaborative with colleagues at the University of Louisville and the University of Georgia.

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Carlos Rodriguez

Associate Vice President for Finance and Business Services, The Pennsylvania State University

Carlos Rodriguez is an accomplished university administrator and retired U.S. Army Captain with a proven track record in financial and operational leadership. Currently serving as the Associate Vice President for Finance and Business Services at The Pennsylvania State University, Carlos oversees the financial management and business operations for the University’s 20 commonwealth campuses, emphasizing financial resiliency, transparency, accountability, and resource optimization.

With over 20 years of progressive leadership experience spanning higher education, federal government, and the private sector, Carlos brings expertise in strategic financial planning, fiduciary accountability, workforce development, and policy implementation. Furthermore, Carlos plays a key role in representing the campuses by fostering collaboration with leadership to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, partnerships, and growth. He strategically allocates resources, opportunities, and systems to optimize operations, ensuring their effectiveness and success.

As a graduate of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus (B.S. in Business Administration), and Grantham University (MBA in Project Management), Carlos is known for building partnerships among diverse stakeholders, mentoring high-performing teams, and aligning financial strategies with institutional missions. His dedication to excellence equals his commitment to advancing student success and institutional goals.

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Craig Maynard

Executive Director for Fiscal Affairs and CFO, University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria

Craig Maynard is a highly regarded leader who specializes in data driven decision making. He has over 16 years of experience in higher education. Craig is currently serving as the Executive Director for Fiscal Affairs/CFO at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, where he is responsible for all campus business and finance related activities. He previously served as Vice President for Finance & Facilities/CFO at Eureka College. Craig graduated from Eureka College with a double major in business administration and accounting. He obtained a master’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University, and is a Certified Management Accountant.

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