Because of the changing landscape in higher education funding and budgets, the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) provides an Emerging Leaders Program, an advanced leadership development experience for high-potential business and finance staff at NACUBO-member colleges and universities. In the fall of 2023, Lori Harvey, the University Libraries director of finance and administration, was one of 73 professionals from 61 institutions of higher education selected to attend the 2023–24 Emerging Leaders Program sponsored by NACUBO.
In its third year, this program provides higher education’s business and finance community with the framework, tools, and resources to enhance their leadership skills, expand their cross-campus relationships, and build their professional network.
Harvey submitted her application for the competitive leadership development opportunity with the full support of Liz Lorang, dean of Libraries, and is honored to be one of the few participants in the cohort who works within a specific college or program.
“This program is usually attended by central business office mid-level leaders, rather than those within a college or program,” Harvey said, “and I am excited to bring this information back to serve the faculty, staff, donors, and other stakeholders of the University Libraries.”
Her goal in the program is to develop a fuller understanding of herself as a leader as well as a greater depth of understanding of the business pressures facing higher education. This exposure will help her serve the Libraries in navigating the higher education landscape, along with the complexities of budget and finance that are always present for libraries.
Harvey dove into her first assignment with enthusiasm and scheduled one-on-one conversations with a variety of chief officers at Nebraska, including Executive Vice Chancellor Katherine Ankerson and Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Michael Zeleny.
“Higher education is in an interesting place at this time with shifts going on, budget reductions, and the need for looking at operations with a future focus,” Harvey explained. “This program has been a great opportunity to talk to our campus leaders about higher education and how the Libraries can provide value for the future.”
The program also assigns the participants to small groups, giving them an opportunity to build a new network for brainstorming and problem-solving. The participants in the Emerging Leadership Program are meeting online and in person through April 2024. NACUBO, founded in 1962, is a nonprofit organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the country.