October 8, 2024
Dear members of the Connecticut College community,
I am pleased to share that Christina W. Williams will join Connecticut College as vice president for Finance and Administration on Nov. 1.
Christina comes to Conn as an experienced leader in finance, business operations and international program management within higher education and the non-profit sector. Most recently, she served as associate dean for Finance and Administration at Boston College’s Woods College of Advancing Studies, where she oversaw key administrative functions, managed faculty hiring and led initiatives aimed at streamlining operations and supporting student success. With a focus on data-driven decision-making, she collaborates closely with academic leadership to drive strategic projects, improve processes and enhance operational efficiency.
Previously, Christina held senior roles at MIT, where she served as chief financial officer for the Sloan School of Management, director of Development and Finance at the MIT Media Lab and director of Finance for Student Life. In these roles, she served on the negotiating team for complex contracts associated with creation of new international universities and implemented financial strategies that improved transparency and reduced inefficiencies. With a proven track record of building cross-functional teams and driving impactful outcomes, Christina has a strong background in managing complex programs, donor partnerships and high-level financial planning.
Christina earned her a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Northeastern University. When not at work, she enjoys spending time in Colorado with her son, daughter-in-law and their two children or in Chicago with her son and daughter-in-law. She also is an avid outdoor person and rower and enjoys exploring with her two golden retrievers, Finn and Sydney.
I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to Justin Wolfradt, interim vice president of Administration and executive director of Facilities Management, and Carey Cseszko, associate vice president of Finance and Administration, for ably leading the Division of Finance and Administration during an extended period of significant transition. I also wish to thank the members of the search committee for their commitment and time to this important work.
VPFA Search Committee
- Chair Erika Smith, dean of the College
- Merrill Collins, director of Auxiliary Operations
- Lorraine McKinney, Library Acquisitions supervisor
- Jacob Stewart, associate professor of Chemistry
- Perry Susskind, professor of Mathematics
- Maddy Rose ’25, SGA chair of Finance
- Grace Webb ’27, SGA chair of Sustainability
- Peter Skaperdas, Board of Trustees, chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee
- John Linehan, Board of Trustees, chair of Finance Committee
- Matt Gardzina, vice president for Information Services and College Librarian
- John Cramer, vice president for Marketing and Communications
Sincerely,
Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President