Michael Howard Appointed New Vice President for Finance and Administration

President McCartney has appointed Michael Howard, the former vice president for finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as vice president for finance and administration at Smith, effective January 1, 2015.

Howard succeeds Ruth Constantine, who is retiring from the college after serving in the position since 1991.

“I’m very pleased that Michael Howard will be joining my team at Smith,” McCartney said. “His commitment to excellence in higher education, as well as his strong background in financial strategy and administrative systems, will be great assets to the college.”

During his tenure at MIT, Howard oversaw the Institute’s financial strategy, capital planning, budget and more, managing annual operating revenues in excess of $3 billion. He led the issuance of $550 million in taxable debt to support MIT’s capital program through 2018, oversaw multiple strategic initiatives and planning efforts, and served as the interim chief financial officer for edX, the online partnership between MIT and Harvard.

“It’s a remarkable and exciting time to work in higher education,” Howard said. “And joining Smith College, one of the oldest and most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the nation, is a once-in-a-career opportunity.”

Before joining MIT, Howard held senior positions at Deloitte Consulting, Fidelity Investments, and Pyramis Global Advisors. He has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from MIT.

Serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, the vice president for finance and administration is responsible for financial planning, accounting, and the college’s relationship with Investure, its shared investment office, as well as facilities management, human resources, campus sustainability and space planning, dining services, and campus safety via the joint campus police department housed at Mount Holyoke College.