Episodios

  • Puzzles, Pathways, Progress: Jodi Kessler

    Puzzles, Pathways, Progress: Jodi Kessler
    Jan 30 2026
    Higher Ed Tax Expert Shares Career Journey from Criminal Law to Global Operations Jodi Kessler, director of tax and global operations at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, discovered her passion for tax law while studying criminal law at Ohio State University. After taking a tax class that presented the field as an engaging puzzle with clear rules and strategic planning opportunities, she shifted her focus and began her higher education career at Ohio State in 2008, later moving to Harvard before settling at MIT. At MIT, Kessler's role has expanded significantly beyond traditional tax work to encompass investment analysis, unrelated business income tax, sales tax, and most recently, global operations. She leads evaluations of international employee placement and compliance, working closely with departments across campus to reduce institutional risk while supporting MIT's mission. Her collaborative approach emphasizes building relationships early and providing high-level customer service to break down institutional silos. Networking through NACUBO has been instrumental in Kessler's professional development, particularly during major transitions like implementing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She emphasizes that today's frequent tax rule changes create ongoing opportunities for newcomers to develop expertise, noting that success comes from understanding how to process changes, interpret legislation, and work with peer institutions. Through her leadership, Kessler aims to leave a legacy of cross-departmental collaboration that ensures all voices are heard while maintaining compliance and supporting institutional goals. Links
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    20 m
  • Seizing Opportunities, Driving Growth: Travis Ball

    Seizing Opportunities, Driving Growth: Travis Ball
    Jan 16 2026
    Building a Higher Ed Business Career from the Ground Up Travis Ball, executive director of business services and chief procurement officer at East Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas, shares his progression from working at a local feed store to becoming a strategic leader in higher education operations. Through a chance phone call offering a purchasing position at the Texas Department of Transportation, Ball discovered his career path and eventually transitioned to higher education in 2005. Over his 20-year tenure at East Texas A&M, Ball has expanded beyond procurement to oversee auxiliaries, real estate, logistics, and transportation while serving in leadership roles with national professional associations. His experience includes guiding the institution through major transitions, including a November 2024 name change and the challenges of COVID-19, while maintaining focus on strategic relationships and operational excellence. Ball, who also serves as an adjunct instructor and K-12 board trustee, emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and seizing opportunities regardless of age or background. His 9-year journey to complete his bachelor's degree while working full time serves as an inspiration for nontraditional students, demonstrating that persistence and education create lasting career impact. Links
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    37 m
  • From Monologues to Metrics: Venessa Ortega

    From Monologues to Metrics: Venessa Ortega
    Oct 31 2025
    In this episode of Career Conversations, Christine Simone talks with Venessa Ortega, director of campus budget administration at the University of Colorado at Boulder (Boulder, CO). Ortega shares her unique career journey from professional theater in Chicago to higher education finance, beginning with a BFA in Theater and six years as a professional actress before discovering an unexpected passion for Excel while working in an administrative role. This interest led her to pursue a master's degree in accounting and eventually join the University of Colorado at Boulder's budget office, where she has served for nearly a decade. Throughout the conversation, Ortega discusses how her theater background enhanced her higher education career, particularly in understanding interpersonal dynamics and reading room situations. She emphasizes how skills from Commedia dell'Arte help her navigate power dynamics in professional settings, while her experience during COVID-19 budget cuts taught valuable lessons about transparent leadership and building trust through difficult conversations. The discussion explores professional development strategies, with Ortega emphasizing the importance of curiosity in career growth. She encourages understanding the broader context behind financial decisions in higher education and credits NACUBO's resources for ongoing learning opportunities. Her story demonstrates how diverse professional experiences can enhance leadership in higher education administration, with key advice focusing on developing deep understanding beyond immediate tasks and building authentic relationships. Links
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    21 m
  • Building System-Wide Impact: Joe Sobieralski

    Building System-Wide Impact: Joe Sobieralski
    Oct 17 2025
    Building a Legacy Through Versatility and Purpose Joe Sobieralski, senior associate vice president for administration and business affairs and university treasurer at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC, shares his journey from athletics to finance leadership. In this episode, host Christine Simone explores how intentional career moves and mentorship shaped Sobieralski's path in higher education business. The episode explores key themes including transitioning from athletics administration to university finance, the value of versatility in higher education leadership, and the importance of alignment between personal values and institutional mission. Starting in athletics at the University of South Carolina, Sobieralski's career path led him through roles as business manager at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and vice chancellor and CFO at USC Aiken before returning to USC's flagship campus. Throughout the conversation, Sobieralski emphasizes how lateral moves expanded his expertise and understanding of higher education operations. He shares insights on maintaining connections across institutional systems, understanding personal brand in career decisions, and creating institutional legacy through daily dedication to improvement and innovation. Links
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    29 m
  • Student Service Innovation: Chris Foster

    Student Service Innovation: Chris Foster
    Oct 3 2025
    From First-Gen to Financial Leader: Chris Foster's Journey Chris Foster, associate vice president of student accounting and integrated student services at the University of North Texas in Denton, shares his path from being a first-generation college student to leading transformative student services initiatives. His story begins with a pivotal moment in a Texas Tech University hallway, where a kind financial aid staff member helped chart his college path—an experience he carries with him through his guiding principle that "Some stranger somewhere remembers you because you were kind to them." At UNT, Foster has spent 17 years reshaping student financial services, most notably through the creation of UNT One Stop—a comprehensive service center that breaks down traditional departmental silos to provide seamless support for students and their families. This innovative approach combines admissions, financial aid, student accounts and other essential services into one unified experience, reflecting Foster's commitment to simplifying the student journey. Drawing from his personal experience as a work-study student who learned higher education finance from the ground up, Foster champions a leadership philosophy centered on understanding "the why" behind processes and empowering team members at all levels to contribute solutions. His approach emphasizes relationship building across departments and the importance of taking chances on people, much like the mentors who shaped his own career path in higher education. Links
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    28 m
  • Authentic Financial Transformation: Stephanie Mayer

    Authentic Financial Transformation: Stephanie Mayer
    Sep 19 2025
    Finding Your Authentic Path in Higher Education Finance On this episode of Career Conversations, NACUBO director of leadership development Christine Simone talks with Stephanie Mayer, budget analyst at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. After eight years in corporate utility finance at PSENG, Mayer discovered her calling through teaching finance as an adjunct professor, which led her to pursue both an MBA and Ph.D. while maintaining her corporate role. This parallel path eventually guided her to full-time higher education finance, where she combined her quantitative expertise with qualitative storytelling. In her current role, Mayer manages budgets across multiple academic units, helping translate financial data into meaningful narratives for different departments—from business to arts programs. She shares insights on navigating institutional changes, including mergers and new college creation, while maintaining strategic financial planning. Her experience demonstrates how understanding both faculty and administrative perspectives enhances budget management in higher education, particularly in hybrid work environments. The conversation explores important themes for finance professionals considering similar transitions, including overcoming imposter syndrome, finding workplace culture fit, and building authentic relationships in academic settings. Through candid discussion of her professional journey, Mayer provides valuable insights for those seeking more meaningful work environments where they can fully utilize both their technical skills, and personalities. She emphasizes that age should not limit career advancement and encourages professionals to pursue opportunities that align with their authentic selves. Links
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    40 m
  • Building Strategic Bridges: Derrick Sawyer

    Building Strategic Bridges: Derrick Sawyer
    May 9 2025
    Derrick Sawyer's 20-year journey in higher education business and finance traces back to an entrepreneurial start at Delaware State University, where he managed a student-run food business and later the campus newspaper's finances. Currently serving as associate vice president of budgets, business services and risk management at Community College of Philadelphia, his path led through key roles at Temple University and Drexel University before landing in his current position. Sawyer offers unique insights from his experience across diverse institution types, from an HBCU to major research universities and now a community college. His leadership philosophy has evolved from a purely transactional approach to one centered on servant leadership and emotional intelligence. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of calculated risk-taking, continuous learning through professional associations, and the power of strong mentorship relationships. Most compelling is Sawyer's perspective on higher education leadership: success isn't just about strategy and performance metrics, but about building meaningful connections across all levels of an institution. His commitment to innovation while maintaining student success at the forefront has shaped his approach to fiscal management and operational excellence. The episode offers valuable insights for professionals at any stage of their higher education career, particularly those interested in business operations, finance, and institutional leadership. Links
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    18 m
  • Building Financial Excellence: Meyroodjy Delva

    Building Financial Excellence: Meyroodjy Delva
    Apr 25 2025
    As senior director of technical accounting and reporting at Howard University in Washington, DC, Meyroodjy Delva discovered his passion for accounting in high school through a business computer class. Now leading financial operations at his alma mater, Delva shares his journey from Big Four accounting to higher education leadership. In this episode, Delva discusses his transition from public accounting at KPMG to higher education during COVID-19, and how he built high-performing financial teams at Howard. He shares insights on navigating major institutional challenges including ERP implementation and cybersecurity incidents, while developing his leadership philosophy across different organizational cultures. Delva also reflects on creating a lasting legacy of financial excellence at Howard University. "What I was looking for is really problem solvers, like really smart people that don't run away from complex problems," says Delva, highlighting his approach to team building. His career insights emphasize embracing challenging opportunities despite setbacks, building strategic networks, adapting leadership style to institutional culture, handling professional feedback constructively, and maintaining focus on continuous process improvement. Links
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    16 m