Brett Padgett Named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Chancellor Kent Syverud today announced the appointment of Brett Padgett, a higher education financial leader and Navy veteran, as Syracuse University’s next senior vice president and chief financial officer. Reporting to the Chancellor as a member of the executive team, he will direct the University’s finance and administration functions. Padgett’s appointment will begin later this summer and was approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

“Brett is an outstanding leader with an impressive depth and breadth of experience in finance administration,” says Chancellor Syverud. “His deep understanding of fiscal management in higher education, his track record of success aligning resources with strategic priorities and his military service will serve Syracuse University well in fulfilling its mission and achieving ambitious goals in the coming years. I am looking forward to welcoming him to the Orange community.”

Padgett comes to Syracuse University from the University of Chicago, where he is currently associate vice president for finance. In this position, Padgett is responsible for accounting and financial reporting; financial planning and analysis; payroll and human resources services; procurement and payment services; and treasury. While at the University of Chicago, he also served as interim vice president and chief financial officer from July 2021-April 2022.

“I am excited about joining Syracuse University at a time when financial planning, resource investment and innovative thinking must be aligned to tackle the many opportunities in higher education,” says Padgett. “I have been impressed with the dedication and passion of the leadership team in their determination to remain focused on delivering on the University’s mission and vision in the midst of change and growth.”

In his new role, Padgett will oversee the financial well-being of Syracuse University, working closely with Chancellor Syverud to proactively position the University to navigate a dynamic financial landscape, optimize resources and investments, and align the budget model in support of the University’s core mission of academic excellence.

During the last five years at the University of Chicago, Padgett led the development of a new long-term financial forecast model for the university. He was engaged in campus land-use and planning, was responsible for the university’s banking relationships and led multiple departments with a total of more than 475 employees. Prior to his work with the university, Padgett was an investment banker for more than two decades, handling complex municipal finances throughout the Midwest. During this time, he worked at Citigroup and JPMorgan/Banc One Capital Markets, and he previously served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant in Special Operations.

Padgett earned a master of business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He also attended U.S. Navy Schools in Charleston, South Carolina; Newport, Rhode Island; Athens, Georgia; Panama City, Florida; and Coronado, California.

Padgett was selected by the search committee after an extensive, national search that yielded a diversely talented pool of applicants. The search committee, chaired by Chancellor Syverud, included Steven Barnes ’82, chairman emeritus, Board of Trustees; Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer; J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation; Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff; Elisabeth “Lisa” Fontenelli ’86, University Trustee, former Board of Trustees Finance Committee chair and Whitman Advisory Council chair; Edward J. Pettinella G’76, Board of Trustees vice chair and Board Audit and Risk Committee chair; Jeffrey M. Scruggs, Board of Trustees Finance Committee chair and Maxwell Advisory Board member; and Professor Emily Stokes-Rees, director of the School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“I want to thank fellow members of the search committee for their leadership and work in identifying an outstanding pool of candidates,” says Chancellor Syverud. “I also want to thank Gwenn Judge for serving as interim CFO since July of 2021. Gwenn has shepherded the University’s finances with great care through challenging times, and I am grateful for her service to Syracuse University.”