In selecting Judith Huntington as its 13th president, The College of New Rochelle seems to have made a lucky choice ”“ a woman who combines financial smarts with an enthusiastic commitment to the college”™s mission of education and service.
A Yorktown Heights resident, Huntington is certainly no stranger to the college, having served as its vice president for financial affairs since 2001 and its outside auditor for eight years prior as part of her duties with the global accounting firm KPMG. (The company seems to be a breeding ground for future leaders: Among its alumni is Fredric M. Zinn, president and CEO of Drew Industries Inc. in White Plains.)
Huntington won”™t actually take office until July 1 of next year. In the meantime, she”™ll be working closely with the current president, Stephen J. Sweeny, who has served in that capacity since 1997. Such a long lead time is unusual in the academic world. But Huntington says, “What this provides me with is a seamless opportunity to transition from CFO to president.”
Fiscal responsibility
By choosing someone with a background in finance, as opposed to academics, the college may also be sending a message to the larger community ”“ that fiscal responsibility is key for nonprofits as well as businesses in these continuing tough times.
The president-elect acknowledges as much, noting that despite a small endowment ($23 million) relative to its operating budget ($62 million), the college has weathered the fiscal tempest well ”“ offering more financial aid to students and maintaining the 350 full-time faculty and staff that she says are indispensable to the college.
“We didn”™t want to lay off staff and ”¦add to the stress of the labor market,” she said.
So instead she went after what she calls “the low-hanging fruit,” cutting back on supplies and postponing some discretionary spending. At the same time, she said, “you have to make the necessary investment in the college.” She looks forward to working with the faculty on new programming and upgrading the main physical plant ”“ an intimate, winding 20-acre complex of 20 major buildings in suburban New Rochelle that includes Leland Castle, a national landmark, and the new green 53,000-square-foot Wellness Center.
For Huntington ”“ who did in-depth research on financing and nonprofits during a two-year fellowship at the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Stamford, Conn. ”“ fiscal prudence is just a means to a larger end, which is to serve the college”™s mission.
“That means having certain nonnegotiable values,” she said. “We are a traditional liberal arts college with an emphasis on women. We are a Catholic institution. And we believe in access for those who may have been previously denied an education.”
Committed to the goal
In this sense, Huntington said, the college is more like a university, with four schools to achieve its goals ”“ the undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences, which is still an all-women enrollment, the Graduate School, the School of Nursing and the School of New Resources for adult learners, which has five satellite campuses in New York City.
The college”™s Roman Catholic backdrop is personal for Huntington. She, husband Brad ”“ president of Tri-State Engineering ”“ and their two children are parishioners of St. Patrick”™s Church in Yorktown Heights and St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Roman Catholic Church in Brookfield, Conn. (Daughter Amanda is a freshman at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., majoring in theology and psychology, while son Bradley Jr. is a sophomore at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers.)
At the same time, Huntington remains committed to the goal of public education. She is a former member of the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education and a current one of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education”™s evaluation team.
Huntington is especially proud of The College of New Rochelle”™s School of New Resources, with its outreach to the inner city:
“It”™s a wonderful way to feel like you”™re making an enormous difference.”
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THE COLLEGE OF NEW ROCHELLE
Founded: 1904 by the Order of St. Ursula
Distinction: First Roman Catholic college for women in New York state
Four schools:
School of Arts and Sciences
Graduate School
School of New Resources
School of Nursing
Total student body: approximately 5,000 students
Faculty and staff, full-time: 350
College campuses
New Rochelle campus ”“ 20 acres, 20 major buildings including the Castle Gallery, Leland Castle, a national landmark, and the new Wellness Center
Co-op City campus and John Cardinal O”™Connor campus, the Bronx
Brooklyn campus
Rosa Parks campus and District Council 37 campus, Manhattan
Tuition by school, annual full-time
School of Arts and Sciences: $27,110
School of Nursing: $27,110
Graduate School: $800 per credit
School of New Resources: $325 per credit
Room and board, annual: $10,176.
Financial aid
The college offers more than $10 million in scholarships to students annually.
CNR economic impact for Westchester
2,053 students are enrolled at the New Rochelle campus
CNR is the fifth-largest employer in New Rochelle and the second-largest nonprofit employer in the city
Annual operating budget in Westchester is almost $41 million.
Total operating budget: $62 million
Moody”™s Investors”™ grade rating: Baa3
Endowment fund: $23 million
