Meet St. Joseph’s University’s CFO, Mark Flower
Over the summer, St. Joseph’s University, New York announced the appointment of its new chief financial officer (CFO), Mark Flower, following a national search to fill the position. Flower, who assumed the role Aug. 3, 2026, reports to President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., and is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the critical areas of financial planning, analysis and management across the University.
Although Flower has substantial experience in aligning financial stewardship with institutional mission and long-term sustainability, his career began in manufacturing. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, as well as graduate degrees in manufacturing engineering and management of technology.
Background and Experience
He has also worked in public-school administration on Long Island. He then spent almost 13 years at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York (CUNY), where he rose from business manager to assistant vice president for finance and, ultimately, vice president of finance and administration and chief operating officer, where he provided executive leadership for the College’s financial and administrative operations while supporting strategic institutional initiatives.
For Flower, the role of the CFO is key to SJNY’s educational mission and one reason he was excited to join the University. He hopes to make a difference by helping provide the resources departments across the Brooklyn and Long Island Campuses need to succeed. “I’m a firm believer in student success,” says Flower.
Flower was also attracted to SJNY’s close-knit community and, particularly, its five pillars, which he says align with his own values. “I think the five pillars of the institution … really aligned with my values,” says Flower. In particular, Flower says SJNY’s emphasis on ethics and spirituality resonated with him and helped draw him to the University.
Also, Flower says a smaller institution gives him and others a greater opportunity to make an impact and contribute to transformational change.
Focusing on the Budget and Transparency
As the new CFO, Flower is intent on gaining a deep understanding of all aspects of the University in order to provide resources every department needs. But he says that his first priority is to understand and simplify the budget. “Really getting a handle on the budget first and understanding … where we are financially is really my first priority.”
Flower also considers transparency central to his approach as CFO. “The first step in any change process is recognizing the need for change,” he says. “If there are financial challenges for the institution, I think the more people understand what those financial challenges are, the better able they are to react to them in a positive way,” he says. “That’s where transparency really plays a key role.” For Flower, that means helping the University community better understand its costs, sources of revenue and the impact of tuition and enrollment on SJNY’s financial health.
A Collaborative Approach to Leadership
“Collaboration, I think, is really key,” he says, adding that change works better when people understand why it is necessary and when leaders communicate transparently.
For Flower, that collaborative approach also shapes the way he views the CFO’s role: not simply as one of managing the University’s finances, but of helping provide faculty and staff with the resources they need to succeed. “I see myself as a service provider,” says Flower, “in order for you to be able to do your job effectively.”
It’s an approach Flower sums up simply: “I’m here to help.”
