Cornell College is proud to announce the hire of Rob Levis as the new vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer.
Levis comes to Cornell with nearly four decades of experience in finance, leadership, and operations. Most recently, he has worked with AmeriCorps since 2008, leading budgeting and operations of the program and residential campus in Vinton, Iowa. He also supported policies and programs to train youth for service projects around the country.
Prior to his time with AmeriCorps, he served as a finance officer with the U.S. Army. During that time, he worked at Tarleton State University, developing its ROTC program, teaching leadership classes to students, and supporting those who chose to become Army officers.
“I am just thrilled that Rob is joining Cornell,” said President Jonathan Brand. “His strong business and financial acumen, combined with his action-oriented mindset, thoughtful listening, team-building skills, and creative thinking, will serve Cornell well. He brings a genuine passion for supporting students. He gets us and what we are working to accomplish. I join others in looking forward to working with and supporting him.”
Levis will start at Cornell on July 14 and is ready to get to work.
“In my life, I’ve discovered a deep passion for service and for helping young people grow and thrive,” Levis said. “While my new role may be less directly student-facing, it’s no less critical. I’m excited to bring my financial expertise and collaborative approach to Cornell, helping to ensure we continue to offer affordable opportunities that set students up for a lifetime of success. The future of our country and our communities lies in these young people. It’s great to be able to take my years of experience to help Cornell deliver on its mission and keep costs down.”
Levis will oversee Cornell’s Division of Business and Enterprise Services, which consists of the Offices of Business Services, Facility Services, Human Resources, and Information Technology. He’s ready to get started with his new team.
“I’ve always been drawn to building and leading effective teams. Whether in the Army or AmeriCorps, teamwork has been at the heart of everything I’ve done. I’m innovative, a problem solver by nature, and a consensus builder. I enjoy working with people and leading teams to be more efficient.”
Levis and his wife, Nancy, have four grown children. He enjoys being involved in his community, and his service record includes a dozen years on the local school board and fifteen years as a high school swim coach. Plus, he’s active in multiple veterans groups, the Vinton Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, his church, and serves as a Boy Scout leader.