Vice President for Finance and Administration Stephen Dahnert Leaving Vassar in 2020

Dear all,

It seems like yesterday when I wrote in 2017 to congratulate Stephen Dahnert into his new role as Vice President for Finance & Administration, having been the acting Vice President since 2016. Since that time, Steve has been an exceptional partner and highly trusted advisor to me through some of the most complicated issues related to resource allocation, planning, governance, and overall leadership of the college.

Steve has announced that he will leave Vassar in June 2020 at the end of the next academic year—his 25th year at the College. After more than 36 years working in higher education, he hopes to take an overdue professional break and then transition into something new, in the non-profit sector or elsewhere.

Steve joined Vassar in 1995 as the Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Campus Communications; in the fall of 2001, he was promoted to the Director of Investments and Capital Project Finance and added Treasurer to his responsibilities in 2013. Steve also served as acting Vice President for Finance & Administration in 2000/01 and again briefly in 2013 before his 2016 appointment. In these roles, he has been part of the team that has grown the endowment for future generations, stabilized our financial condition, helped manage multiple building projects on campus, and successfully led or co-led our budgeting, strategy, and financial planning efforts. Steve has also served on or chaired multiple committees including the Committee on Inclusion and Equity, the Benefits Committee, the Campus Investor Responsibility Committee, the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee, Campus Master Planning, and Priorities & Planning, among many others. In these diverse roles, Steve has been dedicated to Vassar’s mission, honest, and creative in his approaches to try to meet infinite aspirations with finite resources. He will be deeply missed.

A national search will be undertaken in the fall, and we will have time in the year ahead to thank Steve more formally for all his contributions to the College and our community. For now, please join me in recognizing Steve’s long and successful career at Vassar and in wishing him well in the adventures ahead.

Thanks,

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President

Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar