SMITHFIELD, RI – Bryant University has named Donna Ng, an experienced higher education leader and strategic financial officer, as Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer following a national search. Ms. Ng joins the leadership team of Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D., and will serve in a vital role central to advancing initiatives of Bryant’s Vision 2030 Strategic Plan: Education Through a New Lens.
“Vision 2030 is gaining tremendous momentum, and the value of a Bryant education is attracting the attention of students, families, and academic leaders around the world."
Vision 2030 sets a bold trajectory for the next decade through uniquely integrated academic and student life programs, faculty-student collaboration, competitive athletics, and student outcomes that result in economic mobility and a return on investment that is among the top 1% in the nation. Innovative growth initiatives are focused on providing a student-centric education that prepares learners with 21st-century skills and provides emerging career opportunities at the intersection of business, the liberal arts, and STEM, all within a supportive environment that fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
"[Ng] will play a critical role in the next phase of cutting-edge growth, ensuring that Bryant advances as a leader offering innovative interdisciplinary education for the 21st Century."
Ms. Ng will begin her term on October 3, 2022, joining Bryant from Skidmore College, where she served most recently as Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer. At Skidmore, Ms. Ng’s broad portfolio included accounting, budgeting, purchasing, human resources, risk management, investments, facilities, dining services, public safety, conferences and events, and information technology. During her tenure at Skidmore, Ms. Ng led several strategic initiatives, including the financing for and overseeing the construction of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, the development of the 2022 campus master plan, and the implementation of an enterprise-wide financial and human resource system. She also led Skidmore through the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by co-chairing a logistics working group and successfully managing the College finances during this period.
Prior to Skidmore, she served as Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer at Simmons University in Boston, MA, where she partnered with the Provost on a major initiative to redesign Simmons and oversaw the renovation and creation of the Center for Student Success and Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities. Ng also served as Vice President for Business Affairs / Treasurer at Scripps College in Claremont, CA, and Senior Associate Provost for Budget and Planning at Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA.
At Bryant University, Ms. Ng will be engaged with all aspects of the University's operating and capital plans and budgets, as well as funding for the Vision 2030 strategic plan and its commitment to real-world ready education and superior student outcomes.
“Donna Ng has an impressive background in financial strategy and transformational leadership. She will play a critical role in the next phase of cutting-edge growth, ensuring that Bryant advances as a leader offering innovative interdisciplinary education for the 21st Century,” said University Chair of the Board David M. Beirne ’85, General Partner at X10 Capital.
“Donna’s leadership will be pivotal in achieving our Vision 2030 plans..."
Search Committee Chair and Bryant Trustee Christine Katziff ’86, Chief Audit Executive at Bank of America, noted, “Donna’s leadership will be pivotal in achieving our Vision 2030 plans, and we are very fortunate to welcome her to our leadership team.”
Also serving on the Search Committee were Trustee D. Ellen Wilson, Office of the Chief Executive and Executive Vice President at UnitedHealth Group (Retired); Dr. Inge-Lise Ameer, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; and Provost and Chief Academic Officer Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D.
“Vision 2030 is gaining tremendous momentum, and the value of a Bryant education is attracting the attention of students, families, and academic leaders around the world. Donna's deep higher education experience and strong expertise in finance, strategic investing, and resource allocation, will help the University build upon a strong foundation to achieve a new level of excellence,” said President Gittell.
“We look forward to welcoming her to our leadership team as we work together to lead Bryant through the next decade of innovation and transformation.”
“Having worked in higher education for many years, I am very familiar with Bryant’s growth story and am even more impressed with the Vision 2030 initiatives that position the University and its students for success in the next decade and far beyond,” said Ms. Ng. “I am honored to join Bryant University at this exciting time, and I look forward to working with President Gittell and the President’s Cabinet in contributing to advancing Bryant’s mission and the strategic initiatives that will ensure a strong and vibrant future.”
Ms. Ng holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College.
BRYANT UNIVERSITY
For nearly 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The University delivers a uniquely integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, STEM, and the liberal arts. Located on a 435-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,441 undergraduate and graduate students from 38 states and 37 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, College Factual, and Barron's. Visit www.bryant.edu.
