Stephen Kenney Appointed Interim CFO at NJIT

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has appointed Stephen F. Kenney as interim senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer.

Kenney brings more than 25 years of executive financial leadership experience in higher education, health care and international development. He is a certified public accountant, chartered global management accountant and an MBA graduate with a track record of transforming organizational finances through strategic planning, operational efficiency and team development.

Throughout his career, Kenney has led initiatives that resulted in more than $100 million in financial improvements across four institutions. His expertise spans cost containment, system integration and strategic revenue growth. A change management catalyst and team builder, Kenney has successfully restructured finance operations and introduced forward-looking policies at large, complex organizations.

In his most recent role as interim vice president for finance and administration/CFO at the University of Hartford, Kenney helped restructure financial planning, hired key staff and launched a campus-wide facilities renewal effort to address more than $100 million in deferred maintenance. He also formulated a revised tuition pricing and discounting strategy projected to increase revenues by $25 million over the next decade.

At NJIT, Kenney will lead the implementation of the university’s new budget model, a multiyear, campus-wide initiative designed to enhance fiscal transparency, align financial resources with institutional goals, and empower colleges and administrative units with greater responsibility and forecasting capabilities. The redesign is a cornerstone of NJIT’s strategic effort to support long-term growth, academic investment and operational excellence. More information about the budget model redesign is available at njit.edu/finance/njit-budget-model-redesign-project.

“I’m excited to bring my experience in strategic finance and operational transformation to NJIT, contributing to its mission of academic excellence, innovation and impact,” said Kenney. “Joining NJIT offers an exciting opportunity in the midst of the institution’s effort to modernize its financial planning in a way that supports the ambitions of the entire university community.”

Earlier in his career, Kenney served in leadership roles at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar — where he managed a $1.5 billion service contract including a $200 million biomedical program — and as Vice President for Finance at the American University of Beirut, where he oversaw a $450 million operating budget. He also secured $70 million in federal CARES Act funding and $15 million in state grants while CFO of Arnot Health System, and implemented major systems such as EPIC, Workday and Premier Connect to improve financial reporting and efficiency.

NJIT will launch the search for a permanent senior vice president for finance and CFO later this year.