Jacob Long, an experienced leader in public university administration, finances and budgets, has been named the vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer at the University of Mary Washington. With more than two decades of experience in state higher education, Long joins the University as a member of the cabinet leadership team. He will begin Oct. 25.
UMW President Troy Paino noted, “Jacob Long brings extensive experience in Virginia higher education and a proven track record of fiscal expertise, problem-solving skills and the ability to lead and collaborate with people across the institution. I look forward to working with him in the months and years to come.”
Long most recently served as associate vice president for budget and financial planning at William & Mary, advancing from positions as assistant vice president and budget director. In these roles, he developed long-range financial models, analyzed strategic initiatives, worked closely with state partners to advance William & Mary goals, and oversaw capital projects funding.
“The opportunity to come and work with a university community that is committed to providing a personal educational experience for its students makes Mary Washington a perfect next step,” said Long. “I enjoy working with others to come up with solutions, and the Mary Washington opportunity is a combination of the right time and right place.”
In addition to his work at William & Mary, Long has an extensive career with Virginia public universities, having worked with Virginia Commonwealth University as the director of finance and administration for the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs. He also worked in the central budget office, and ran finance and administration for an entrepreneurial department while at VCU. In the past two years, he’s stepped forward into a more direct university-wide leadership role working with the Board of Visitors and president at William & Mary. Throughout his time at public institutions, Long has focused on shared goals and the benefit of shared knowledge, while adapting to the culture and unique needs of each institution.
Long also is a graduate of public higher education in Virginia, earning a Master of Public Administration from VCU and a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration from James Madison University, which provided the pathway, connections and inspiration for his future work.
“As an undergraduate, I had a faculty mentor who helped set me on the path of public service through setting me up with an internship in the Town of Broadway and suggesting that I apply for the Governor’s Fellows program. I enjoyed my time with the Town of Broadway so much that my early career goals were to someday be a town manager. While my career has taken a slightly different path, working with a university leadership team and an administration and finance team to support the goals of the institution is very similar work, and I enjoy the variety that working at a university provides.”
The vice president for administration and finance and CFO is a key member of the president’s cabinet who is charged with overseeing critical functions that are essential to the University’s ongoing success. The position advises campus leadership on financial affairs, supervises and coordinates the preparation of the University program budget for submission to the State Department of Planning and Budget and the prepares the University’s capital outlay budget submissions. This position also oversees administration and management of six areas – Budget and Financial Analysis, Business Services, Procurement, Finance, Facilities Services, and Human Resources – and works closely with the UMW Foundation.
