The below message was sent to faculty and staff on January 17, 2025.
Dear faculty and staff colleagues:
Please join me in welcoming Samir Datta as our next vice president for finance and administration. He will join the Bryn Mawr College community on March 3 from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he serves as the chief financial and administrative officer as their vice president for finance and administration.
During his three years at Lawrence, Samir has led the successful closing of two debt financing transactions totaling $33 million, led the successful execution of two real estate construction projects addressing Lawrence’s needs for student housing and academic space, created and socialized a 10-year financial model framework and led the successful negotiation of Lawrence’s dining services contract. As part of his role at Lawrence, Samir also serves on the board (vice-chair in 2023 and chair in 2024) of WAICU Retirement Readiness Plan, a multi-employer retirement plan for Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities.
Samir’s previous roles also combined his expertise in leading finance teams to deliver complex analyses, develop budgets and forecasts, and drive strategic recommendations that enhance executive decision-making. He worked at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (a premier investment organization that provides investment management of trusts and public funds) from 2015-2022, where he created and led the financial planning and analysis function, which strategized short- and long-term financial planning for the state’s pension fund. His prior experience includes Finance roles at TruStage, Target, and Capital One.
Samir grew up in India and earned a B.Com (Accounting) from Lucknow University and an M.M.S. (Finance) from Mumbai University. After working in Finance roles in India and Hong Kong, Samir moved to the United States and earned his M.B.A (Finance) from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Bloomington. Samir also holds a CFA charter.
A huge thank you to the search committee and its chair, GSSWSR Dean Janet Shapiro, for their work during the search process. Members included Chief Investment Officer Brooke Jones; Senior Advisor for Operational & Administrative Strategic Initiatives Shannon Kearns; Professor of History of Art Lisa Saltzman; Associate Professor and Chair of Chemistry Jonas Goldsmith; Electronic Resources and Serials Librarian Shenika McAlister; and Trustees Thabani Clemens Sinkula '99, Sally Bachofer '97, and Jim Matteo P'22.
Samir will oversee a range of functions, including the following offices: Controller; Human Resources; Facilities Services, which includes campus sustainability; and Budget, as well as administrative services, including conferences and events, dining services, environmental health and safety, transportation, the book shop, day care, and the post office.
Special thanks to Tijana Stefanovic, who has ably served as interim chief for this division since January 2024.
Wendy
Wendy Cadge
President and Professor of Sociology
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Pronouns: she/her
brynmawr.edu
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