Founded June 10th, 1963, The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a metropolitan research university built to make a better future for their students and society. UCF solves tomorrow’s greatest challenges through a commitment to academic, inclusive and operational excellence. Leveraging innovative learning, discovery and partnerships, UCF fosters social mobility while developing the skilled talent needed to advance industry for their region, state and beyond.
UCF offers 104 bachelor’s, 96 master’s, 34 doctoral and three specialist degree programs, and it leads all universities in Florida by conferring more than 18,000 degrees a year. In Fall 2022, the freshman class had an average SAT two-score of 1334, The Burnett Honors College enrolled 499 new students, and the number of incoming National Merit Scholars ranked UCF among the top 40 colleges and universities.
Leadership Spotlight
Alexander N. Cartwright - President, UCF
Alexander N. Cartwright President
Alexander Cartwright was selected as UCF’s sixth president by the UCF Board of Trustees on March 20, 2020 following a nationwide search. He was confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors the following week.
Under Dr. Cartwright’s leadership, UCF is working toward becoming the world’s leading public metropolitan university, a top 50 public research university, determined to foster success for students of all backgrounds and to produce research and creative works that positively impact lives across our community and across the world. To achieve this vision, the university has been focused on achieving greater operational, academic and inclusive excellence, including building a senior leadership team that will help take the university to new heights.
As a first‐generation college student whose journey to higher education was not traditional, Dr. Cartwright understands and prioritizes the need to build successful outcomes for students from all backgrounds, and is dedicated to creating a culture of belonging at UCF.
An internationally recognized researcher and scholar in the area of optical sensors, he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, SPIE and the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Cartwright is a prior winner of both the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award. In addition, he earned the 2002 SUNY Chancellor’s award for excellence in teaching.
A native of the Bahamas, Dr. Cartwright holds a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Iowa. He and his wife Melinda have two children, Alyssa and Andrew.
Rodney M. Grabowski - Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc.
Rodney M. Grabowski
Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc.
Rodney M. Grabowski is UCF’s Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc. A passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform lives, he oversees the university’s fundraising, alumni relations, partnership, communications and marketing efforts. Under his leadership, the Division of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships builds meaningful, fruitful connections that enhance UCF’s impact and result in new sources of revenue to fuel our excellence and unleash the potential of our students, faculty and community.
Mr. Grabowski has more than three decades of experience in nonprofit and advancement leadership, including extensive experience in higher education and health care philanthropy. He is a national leader in the use of artificial intelligence, data-driven strategy and innovative management strategies.
Before joining UCF in September of 2022, Mr. Grabowski served as Vice President for University Advancement with the University at Buffalo. His team surpassed the university’s fundraising goal of $650 million a full year early and increased the goal to $1 billion for the same time period of the campaign — an effort boosted by back-to-back record-setting years for UB.
Prior to his years at UB, Mr. Grabowski was at the University of Cincinnati as President of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Vice President of Advancement, and President and CEO of the UC Health Foundation. At Cincinnati, he successfully concluded a $1 billion campaign, surpassing the goal by 10 percent. In Florida, he served as the University of South Florida’s Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and campaign director, where he managed the university’s $600 million fundraising campaign. He also served in fundraising leadership positions at the University of North Florida and at Jacksonville University.
A native of Phoenix, New York, Grabowski holds the prestigious CFRE credential — Certified Fund Raising Executive. He earned an MBA from the University of North Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Syracuse University. He is an active member and leader in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. An Eagle Scout, he is active in the Boy Scouts of America.
About the UCF Foundation Inc.
Founded in 1969, the UCF Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with vision of “powering partnerships and transforming lives through philanthropy”. The Foundation is led by a volunteer board of directors and staffed by more than 100 professionals.
Under the leadership of Rod Grabowski, the Foundation achieved a record breaking $114M in FY 23.
Goals for FY 24 include:
Strengthening philanthropy
Strengthen and expand alumni engagement
Strengthen donor connection
Create, align and strengthen partnerships
Be an organization of choice
Build a culture of organizational excellence
Drive financial stability
Optimize marketing and communication effectiveness
The Opportunity - Chief Financial Officer
University of Central Florida is excited to launch the search for an Associate Vice President for Advancement, Accounting & Finance who will also serve as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the UCF Foundation, Inc. Reporting to and partnering with the Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, the CFO will collaborate closely with senior management, board members, and internal and external partners. They will provide strategic financial direction and oversight to support the organization’s mission and goals.
The CFO will be a strategic leader with exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills who works with the senior leadership team to optimize revenue for the Foundation, ensuring sustainable growth. Serving as an advisor to the Foundation team, the CFO will evaluate and assist in budgeting, financial monitoring, planning, and analysis of the Foundation.
They will oversee accounting, finance, investments, and real estate. Within this financially complex Foundation, the CFO will provide a breadth of expertise, supervision and guidance in the areas of: fund accounting, financial reporting and analysis, audit oversight and management, policy development, internal controls, general accounting, budgeting and forecasting, real estate holdings and management, and financial investment management and accounting. The CFO will also serve as an important partner to campus colleagues regarding management of gift funds.
The CFO is an officer of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Responsibilities:
Responsible for overseeing the fiscal activities of the UCF Foundation including the planning, implementation, and supervision of accounting systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls.
Works closely with UCF’s Chief Financial Officer and Controller on fiscal matters involving the Foundation and with Foundation legal counsel on related legal matters including financing and real estate.
Responsible for investment and banking relationships including dealing directly with the investment consultants, investment custodian, and banks.
Manages treasurer functions and daily cash position. Has authority to disperse funds as approved by the board and has check signing authority on authorized bank accounts.
Staffs the Investment, Audit, Real Estate, and Financial Committees of the Board of Directors.
Responsible for the development and supervision of the annual operating budget and the operating and capital budgets for all buildings.
Solicits and negotiates financing from banking institutions, real estate investment trusts, and other funding sources.
Schedules, coordinates, and assists auditors from independent CPA firm. Approves annual audited and quarterly financial statements. Maintains expertise in governmental and not-for-profit accounting, tax issues; implements procedural changes as needed to ensure that the Foundation maintains compliance with applicable regulations.
Responsible for overall goal setting for the department and implementation of the accounting department objectives.
Responsible for State Charitable Organization annual registrations and filing requirements program.
Serves as Risk Manager for the Foundation with oversight for the process of identifying, measuring and managing insurable or hazard risks. Directs the purchase of insurance products, management of claims and loss control activities.
Assists in recruiting, training, and retaining Foundation employees.
Additional duties as assigned.
One of the Best Colleges in the U.S.
Top 20 Most Innovative University in the Nation: U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF as one of the most innovative in its annual list of best colleges.
UCF is an academic, partnership and research leader in numerous fields, such as optics and lasers, modeling and simulation, engineering and computer science, business, public administration, education, hospitality management, healthcare and video game design. In fact, in addition to being recognized as one of the best national universities by Washington Monthly, UCF consistently appears in U.S. News and World Report’s best college rankings. Explore several of UCF's academic programs that regularly rank among the top in the nation — and the world:
Living in Orlando, the sun shines year-round, beaches are a trip up the road, high-rises are home to booming Fortune 500 companies and emerging tech, and world-class attractions are your weekend getaways.
Orlando’s diverse neighborhoods span a broad spectrum. From the bustling urban center of downtown Orlando to the old Florida charm of Osceola County, and from the ancient oak-canopies of Seminole county to the rolling hills of Lake County, the Orlando region is rich with history and character.
Cost of Living:
Living in Orlando means watching your dollar go far beyond where it goes elsewhere. From housing and healthcare to groceries and beyond, nothing compares to Orlando’s incredible cost of living.
Compared to New York, New York (Manhattan):
Housing in Orlando is 77.48% less expensive.
Groceries in Orlando are 17.63% less expensive.
Transportation in Orlando is 15.66% less expensive.
Healthcare in Orlando is 18.87% less expensive.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Dreams come true in Orlando and for countless reasons — not the least of which is Orlando's commitment to creating wondrous adventures for all visitors. In fact, Orlando strives to be the nation’s most inclusive travel destination, welcoming people from all over the planet to enjoy everything they have to offer regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or life stage.
Orlando’s openness can be traced to their local residents and their fascinating histories, which represent a true melting pot of global cultures and customs. Want to learn more? Use the resources offered here to explore African American, Asian American, Hispanic and Latino, and LGBTQ+ history and influence in the Orlando area. The area is also home to multicultural festivals, museums, galleries, restaurants and other locally owned businesses that make it a great place to live.
American City of the Future:
Orlando has been named Top 10 American City of the Future for three years running. While most people know Orlando for tourism and hospitality, the city and region has much more to offer:
2/3 of the workforce spans across life sciences and healthcare, innovative technologies, advanced manufacturing, and more.
No. 2 in the country for job growth, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
An internationally-recognized semiconductor industry cluster.
Home to companies like AAA (headquarters), Blue Origin, Darden Restaurants (headquarters), Deloitte, Electronic Arts, FARO, Kroger, Lockheed Martin, Massey Services Inc. (headquarters), Mattrix Technologies, Mitsubishi Power, Northrop Grumman, Ocean Insight, Oracle, Photon-X, Rotech Healthcare Inc, Siemens, Silicon Assurance, skywater, Veritas, and much more.
Applications and Nominations
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Expressions of Interest
The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and seeks to employ individuals based upon their qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the position responsibilities.
The University of Central Florida has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Wendy Wilsker has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.
Making the world a better place is Shaké Sulikyan’s mission in life. She has decades of experience in the nonprofit sector including senior leadership roles in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, and social services. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is excited to partner with UCF and the Foundation in strategically growing their team to support their mission of positively changing the world.
