Wabash College President Andrew T. Ford has announced the appointment of Larry B. Griffith as the College’s chief financial officer and treasurer. Griffith will begin his tenure at Wabash on July 1, 2006.
"The pool of candidates was truly remarkable," said President Ford of the search. "It included at least eight people who have served or are serving now as chief financial officers. Larry was our first choice and we are delighted he has decided to join us."
Since 1992, Griffith has been the vice president for finance and operations at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. He served as vice president for business affairs and treasurer for his alma mater, Mount Union College, from 1982 through 1992.
"The opportunity to use my experience in higher education and become involved in the management and oversight of the significant financial, physical, and human resources that make up Wabash College was a challenging and exciting concept to me," said Griffith.
Griffith is certainly no stranger to small private colleges. He was an NCAA Division III student-athlete and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and mathematics from Mount Union College in 1974. He became a certified public accountant and earned his master’s degree in accounting from Kent State University in 1987.
At Wabash, the treasurer serves as an elected officer of the Board of Trustees and works closely with the Investment Officer, Investment Policy Committee, and the Budget and Finance Committee. Griffith will also supervise the College’s Business Office, Bookstore, Mail and Printing Services Office, and have oversight of Sodexho Campus Services and Bon Appetit Food Service.
"I was struck by the commitment of the staff which report to the treasurer," said Griffith, "and I am excited to be working with each of them to better define how we as individuals can let the other members of the Wabash community know what expectations they can have from us. We also want to help in the educational process of our students by teaching responsibility and accountability in our daily actions with them."
Ford’s appointment of Griffith ends a busy hiring season at Wabash since Ford announced his decision last May to step down at the end of this school year. The Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the recommendation from the search committee to name Dr. Patrick E. White the 15th president of Wabash to succeed Ford. Ford and White then worked with an on-campus search committee to name Dr. Gary Phillips Dean of the College. Ford, White, Dean for Advancement Joseph Emmick, along with five trustees, comprised the search committee that recommended Griffith for the treasurer position.
"Larry Griffith's many years of experience as chief financial officer at two strong colleges prepare him well for the complex tasks involved in leading the financial operations of Wabash, said President-elect White. "I am grateful to President Ford, Dean of Advancement Joe Emmick, and the Trustees who served on the search committee for their careful work and for bringing me on board for the interviews."
"It is a great opportunity for me to be a part of the new management team which is headed by Pat White, added Griffith. "I am excited to be a part of a team where the opinions of all members are heard and evaluated, and the decisions coming forward are in the best interest of the students of Wabash College."