Sydney Rose Leo Joins Hartwick

As Vice President, Administration

ONEONTA – After a seven month nationwide search, Sydney Rose Leo, a college administrator from Nashville, Tenn., has joined Hartwick as  vice president for finance. She will begin Monday, Aug.15.

Leo has been vice president of administration and CFO at Fisk College, where she developed and managed the university’s first zero-sum operating budget, designed a three-year plan and budget that lowered institutional discounts by 15 percent, turned a profit on room and board, launched the development of a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, and eliminated a persistent structural operating deficit.

“Hartwick College has been fortunate to attract talented vice presidential leadership in recent years,” said President Margaret L. Drugovich. “This trend continues … Ms. Leo is well prepared for this role, and her abilities became evident to many during the search process.”

She succeeds George Elsbeck, who is retiring and whom Drugovich praised for “nine years of exemplary service,” and joins Gregg Fort, college advancement, and Karen McGrath, enrollment, among recent entries in the vice-president ranks.  The other vice presidents are Meg Nowak, student affairs, who joined Hartwick in 2008, soon after Drugovich’s appointment, and Michael Tannenbaum, academic affairs, who is also provost.

Prior to joining Fisk, Leo was CFO of the Interaction Institute for Social Change, and an executive consultant to organizations including City Year, Inc., The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare. She was also senior manager at Ernst & Young and director at KPMG.

“Service to a mission has become an increasingly important aspect in my life view,” said Leo. “I am excited to serve Hartwick College because of its commitment to diversity and inclusion and dedication to creating an engaged community that integrates a liberal arts education with experiential learning.”

A 1988 graduate of Smith College with a bachelor of science in sociology, Leo earned a master of science in finance and accounting from the University of Hartford, and a master of science in computer information systems from Bentley University in Waltham, Mass.