PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Briar Cliff University

(October 7, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Cindy March, securing the role as the next Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer Search at Briar Cliff University.

Cindy March recently served as Chief Financial Officer for AgState in Cherokee, Iowa, where she led the implementation of a CPM platform that modernized budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.  She also served in CFO and Controller positions at CW Suter Services, Platinum Grain and Platinum Ethanol.  Cindy earned a bachelor’s in accounting and business management from Buena Vista University and recently received her MBA from Northwest Missouri State University. Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the Cabinet, Cindy will play a central role in advancing the University’s continued recovery and long-term sustainability. She will also serve as the primary liaison to the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and lead institutional budgeting, financial planning, accounting, treasury management, audit and compliance, risk management, and financial reporting.

Briar Cliff University, founded in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, is a welcoming academic community overlooking the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa. What began on a hill once covered in briar patches has grown into a vibrant campus that now serves nearly 1,000 students. Rooted in the Franciscan values of service, compassion, and inclusivity, Briar Cliff fosters both academic excellence and personal growth, offering a transformative experience for students and professionals alike. The University offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs, a range of graduate degrees, and several online completion pathways to meet students where they are in their educational journey. From health sciences and business to education, social work, and the liberal arts, Briar Cliff delivers a mission-driven education that shapes not just résumés but character. Faculty and staff work closely with students to cultivate curiosity, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to service and learning.

Affordable Excellence 

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.