RH Perry & Associates Places CFO for Manhattan College
August 15, 2023 – RH Perry & Associates has placed James J. Perrino as the new vice president for finance/ chief financial officer of Manhattan College in New York City. He was formerly executive vice president of finance and operations at Adelphi University. Senior consultants Sue DeWine and Pam Shockley-Zalabak led the search. “We are thrilled to welcome James Perrino to Manhattan College,” said college president Milo Riverso. “He is a highly accomplished financial executive with a proven track record of success. His deep experience in higher education finance, as well as his strong leadership and strategic skills, will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve through these challenging times.”
In his new role, Mr. Perrino will be responsible for the leadership and management of all aspects of Manhattan College’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, investment practices, and auditing. He will also play a key role in the college’s strategic planning process.
Mr. Perrino had been with Adelphi since 2017. He was responsible for setting the strategic direction and actively managed operations for finance, human resources, facilities, project management and information technology. During his tenure, Mr. Perrino managed a $220 million budget, achieved annual surpluses in fiscal years 2018-2021, and oversaw the completion of a $60 million renovation of the campus university center.
Strong Experience
Previously, Mr. Perrino was a partner at the firm of CohnReznick, where he managed the not-for-profit and education industry practice. Earlier in his career, he was a founding partner of the Perrino Consulting Group, where he led a firm that specialized in not-for-profit and higher education organizations until its merger with CohnReznick in 2012. Before that, Mr. Perrino was senior vice president for finance administration at St. John’s University in Queens, where he managed business affairs, facilities management, enrollment management and internal audit. He began his career at KPMG, where he worked for 22 years, ultimately becoming a partner in the consulting and audit departments.
“I am so excited to be joining the Manhattan College leadership team as its next vice president of finance,” said Mr. Perrino “I look forward to meeting the community and leveraging my past experience to help the college have the necessary resources to achieve its mission and vision. I look forward to being part of the journey to position the college for continued success and growth.”
Perrino is a graduate of Boston University, where he earned a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in accounting. He holds a CPA in both New York and New Jersey and was the 2021 honoree as Long Island Business News financial administrator of the year.
Related: RH Perry & Associates Assists Erie County Community College in President Search
Founded in 1853, Manhattan College is an independent, Lasallian Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning that provides its students with a personalized classroom setting and big-city opportunities. With an enrollment of 3,166 undergraduate and 528 graduate students, Manhattan College’s student to faculty ration is 11:1. The average class size is 18. Its six schools include: the School of Liberal Arts, Kakos School of Science, School of Engineering, O’Malley School of Business, School of Continuing & Professional Studies, and School of Health Professions
Higher Education Search
Established in 1974, RH Perry & Associates offers strong credentials and experience in academic executive search, having successfully completed well over 1,000 searches in its history. Serving both two-year and four-year institutions, the firm’s higher education practice consists of senior-level executives with a well-balanced mix of college and university presidential and senior administrative experience and executive search expertise. Headquartered in Ashville, NC, RH Perry’s consultants maintain offices in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
RH Perry & Associates Recruits CFO for California State University Stanislaus
RH Perry & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Christene James as the new vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer of California State University Stanislaus in Turlock. Leading the assignment were Sue DeWine, senior consultant, and Paul G. Doeg, president and chief operating officer. “Ms. James is a highly resourceful senior leader with experience directing growth and leading operational excellence,” said Ellen Junn, president of the school. “She has more than 25 years of experience in higher education and has worked in various roles and with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community stakeholders.”
Dr. DeWine has 45 years of experience as a higher education administrator, and fundraiser. She joined RH Perry & Associates in 2015 after more than 40 years in higher education. She has had a successful career in academe with extensive experience as an administrator, fundraiser, and communication consultant. She was a full professor and consultant to industry in a large public institution and provost and president at two small private colleges. Her expertise is academics.
Dr. Shockley-Zalabak joined RH Perry & Associates in 2023 after more than 35 years in higher education. She is chancellor and professor emerita of the University of Colorado Springs and the author of nine books and over 100 other publications and productions. Dr. Shockley-Zalabak is also president of CommuniCon Inc., an organizational and leadership development corporation, with clients in the U.S. and Europe.
Related: Why Universities Have Stepped Up Efforts to Involve Search Firms
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
