Heidi Vanderbilt-Brown named Wellesley College’s vice president for finance and administration and treasurer
President Paula A. Johnson announced today the appointment of Heidi Vanderbilt-Brown as the College’s next vice president for finance and administration and treasurer.
Vanderbilt-Brown, a senior executive with more than 15 years’ experience in leadership roles in both secondary and higher education, will oversee financial management of the College’s $289 million budget beginning September 1.
Vanderbilt-Brown currently serves as the chief financial and operating officer at Milton Academy and was previously associate director in the Office of Financial Strategy and Planning at Harvard University.
At Milton Academy, Vanderbilt-Brown oversees the vast majority of the school’s administrative functions including finance and operations, facilities, dining, human resources, campus safety, and campus services and events. In addition to leading the school’s financial and operational strategy, she planned and executed its campus master plan. At Harvard University, she managed the design and implementation of multiyear financial planning initiatives, including working with the institution’s schools and units to develop Harvard’s multibillion-dollar annual budget. Her previous roles include consulting positions at the Boston Consulting Group and the Advisory Board Company, where she focused on strategy and transformation initiatives for academic medical centers and other healthcare companies and organizations.
“After a robust national search, the search committee and I were extremely impressed with Heidi’s experience and success leading financial operations and management at top academic institutions,” said Wellesley College President Paula A. Johnson. “This background, together with her strong commitment to Wellesley’s educational mission, her deep understanding of the importance of careful financial stewardship in advancing higher education, and her ability to develop strong working relationships with people across an organization, makes her an outstanding choice for this role.”
Vanderbilt-Brown will report to President Johnson and, as a key member of the Senior Leadership team, will play a critical role in supporting the strategic vision of the College while overseeing finance, operations and budgeting, facilities and dining, public safety, campus services, and event management. She will work closely with the Wellesley College Board of Trustees and several of its key committees, including campus and finance, audit, and investment.
Vanderbilt-Brown shared, “I am delighted to join Wellesley at such a pivotal moment. The mission of educational organizations has never been more important, and Wellesley’s multifaceted, globally aware education ensures that graduates will continue to serve and lead others with worldwide impact. I look forward to partnering with President Johnson and the school’s leadership, trustees, faculty, staff, and students to realize Wellesley’s ambitions while maintaining its financial sustainability.”
Vanderbilt-Brown’s appointment comes after a national search led by Spencer Stuart, one of the country’s leading executive search firms, and directed by a 10-member committee led by President Johnson that included members of the board, senior leadership, and faculty.
Vanderbilt-Brown earned a master’s in business administration with second-year honors from Harvard Business School and a bachelor of arts in biology, magna cum laude, from Harvard College.