Frank Barra has been promoted to chief financial officer at Fairleigh Dickinson University, effective immediately, the school announced Thursday.
Barra, who previously served as the senior associate vice president for finance and Division I athletics administration, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of excellence to his new role.
Since joining FDU in 2017, Barra has served in various capacities. He oversaw the departments of accounting, resource allocation and planning, purchasing and credit and collections. He also worked collaboratively with senior leadership and has provided strategic administrative support as the staff liaison to the investment subcommittee of the FDU board of trustees.
In addition, Barra has played an integral leadership role on various other major initiatives, including the long-range financial plan and the refinancing of the university’s long-term debt, along with providing strategic administrative oversight of the Division I athletics department. He is poised to build upon this foundation and manage even greater responsibilities.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in accountancy, Barra is a Certified Public Accountant, having previously served FDU as one of his audit clients during his tenure at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Succeeding Barra as associate vice president for finance is Catherine Bonilla, an FDU alumna with a B.S. and M.S. in accounting, who has previously served as university controller and most recently as a part-time special adviser to the senior vice president for finance and administration.
