Dear Ithaca College Community,
I am pleased to share that Tim Downs will be joining our Ithaca College community as vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, beginning August 2.
Tim is coming to IC from Princeton University, where he serves as executive director for facilities finance and administrative services. In addition to managing the university’s capital, operating, and maintenance budgets, he is deeply invested in team building and developing the careers of those who report to him, environmental sustainability, and change management.
The role of VPFA-CFO is one that requires expertise, creativity, collaboration, and a willingness to think innovatively as the college seeks to both stabilize in the short term and launch boldly and realistically into a sustainable future.
Tim brings an infectious energy and inventive spirit to his work, and a full understanding of what it takes to successfully tackle so many of the complexities facing the academy now and in the years ahead. He is the right partner for us as we activate our immediate and forward-facing goals and realize the promise of our strategic plan, Ithaca Forever.
Please read more about Tim’s experience and professional accomplishments.
This was a key search for the college and Tim shined as a strong leader and skilled financial strategist. Throughout the entire process, he met with a variety of stakeholders across the IC community whose excitement around his candidacy and his potential as a leader at this institution was palpable.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Odalys Diaz-Piñeiro, chief of staff in the Office of the President, who chaired the search committee; Lynn Hyde, executive assistant, Office of Human Resources; and committee members Susan Bassett '79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports; Michael Conover '81, Ithaca College trustee; Shana Gore, executive director of student financial services; Marc Israel '05, associate vice president for business and finance; Grace Madeya ’23, student representative on the Institutional Effectiveness and Budget Committee; Chris McNamara '81, clinical associate professor of physical therapy, director of the Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy Clinic, and chair of Faculty Council; and Jim Yaggie, professor of physical therapy and director of the Human Anatomy Laboratory.
I also offer my sincere gratitude to the many, many community members who met with all of our finalists, including staff from across campus units and in the Division of Finance and Administration; members of the Institutional Effectiveness and Budget Committee; the executive committees of the Faculty Council, Staff Council, and Student Governance Council; our deans, members of the senior leadership team, and the college leadership team; and our President’s Fellows. The perspectives, thoughts, and opinions of all campus stakeholders who engaged with our finalists were critical in this decision-making process.
Finally, I want to highlight the tremendous work of Marc Israel '05, associate vice president for business and finance, Tim Carey, associate vice president for facilities, and Beth Reynolds, budget director, who have skillfully led the Division of Finance and Administration since March. Their tremendous expertise, institutional knowledge, and willingness to step up to serve this college has enabled us to have a seamless transition and to conduct a thorough, deep, and deliberate search to fill this critical position.
Please join me in welcoming Tim and his wife, Erin, to our community this summer.
All my best,
Shirley M. Collado
President
