Ohio State University CFO departing for alma mater
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Geoffrey S. Chatas announced today that he will pursue a new career opportunity.
Chatas will remain with Ohio State through early February before joining Georgetown University as senior vice president and chief operating officer. An alumnus of Georgetown, Chatas will return to Washington, D.C., after a seven-year tenure at Ohio State marked by innovative funding strategies and increased financial stability.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Michael Papadakis, who is also vice president of financial services and innovation, will serve as interim CFO. Papadakis provides capital markets expertise at an important time of transformative growth at the university.
“It has been my honor to be part of this great flagship university,” Chatas said. “Ohio State has made tremendous strides, and it has been particularly rewarding to advance access, affordability and excellence for students and families throughout Buckeye Nation.”
“The work of Geoff and his team has contributed greatly to momentum across our university,” said President Michael V. Drake. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Geoff to return to his alma mater — and we wish him the very best.”
Innovative funding initiatives have generated more than $2 billion during Chatas’ tenure.
This year, the university entered into a comprehensive energy management partnership to provide $1.165 billion in resources to the academic mission and launch an energy-efficiency campaign. In 2012, Ohio State generated $483 million for academic priorities by leasing its parking operations; the upfront payment has since grown to $564 million.
Chatas has helped lead a number of additional initiatives that support the university’s access, affordability and excellence focus, including administrative efficiencies, a collaboration with Apple to launch a digital learning initiative and a contract with NIKE to further support scholarships, teaching and more. He also served as chairman of the Ohio Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency in Higher Education, which provided recommendations to institutions across the state.
