SUNY Fredonia today announced that it has named Stephen A. Schillo as its new Vice President for Finance and Administration. Formerly Vice President for Management and Business at Duquesne University, he started his new role at SUNY Fredonia on January 22.Mr. Schillo, who has enjoyed a 30-year career that spans four well-respected universities in addition to several years of municipal administration experience, enters a position that has been filled on an interim basis since a retirement in late 2010. He has been the chief finance and business officer for the Pittsburgh-based Duquesne and was responsible for institution-wide financial policy and management.
Prior to joining Duquesne, Schillo served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Gannon University in Erie, Pa., from 1996 to 2002. In addition he served Georgetown University from 1993 to 1996 as Associate Vice President—Chief Finance Officer for its main campus in Washington, D.C. He began the higher education portion of his career with his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh in 1987, beginning as Budget Director and eventually rising to Associate Vice President for Business Affairs and University Planning, a title he held from 1990 to 1993.
“I am very pleased to welcome such an accomplished and experienced professional as Stephen Schillo to SUNY Fredonia, and I’m excited to see what fresh ideas he can bring to this critical division of campus,” said SUNY Fredonia President Virginia Horvath. “I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Interim Vice President Karen Porpiglia, who has filled this role very capably for us since 2010.”
Schillo will oversee an annual consolidated operating budget of more than $103 million, as well as a variety of administrative offices such as accounting, budget, internal control, payroll and purchasing, as well as the departments of Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Planning, Facilities Services, the Faculty Student Association, Human Resources, Student Accounts, and University Services, which collectively employ more than 380 staff members.
“I am honored to have been chosen to serve the SUNY Fredonia campus and its students,” said Schillo. “From everything I’ve seen and researched about this institution, it is clear to me that it is one of the premier universities in Upstate New York. I am excited about joining President Horvath and my vice presidential colleagues at the Cabinet level as we form the new leadership team that will guide SUNY Fredonia’s continued growth and transformation in the years ahead.”
Schillo began his career as assistant director of finance for the city of Pittsburgh in 1982, rising to Deputy Director of Finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Economics, as well as a master’s degree in Public Management and Policy Analysis, from Carnegie Mellon University.
