2026 Consulting Webinar Bundle

Bernadette Hinkle is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of higher education leadership experience in administration, accounting, budgeting, and business services. She excels in building effective teams, implementing innovative solutions, delivering high-level customer service, and strategically aligning resources to support organizational missions. As a certified public accountant, Bernadette demonstrates integrity and stewardship, holding herself to high standards of excellence. Her transformational leadership enables her to manage and streamline complex situations, delivering solid results across all levels of management. Her career spans administrative, strategic, and technical roles in both public and private higher education, including significant contributions at liberal arts institutions, the University of Arkansas System, and West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Bernadette currently operates her consulting firm, Higher Education (HIED) Financial Strategic Services, LLC. She is a higher education thought partner and consultant, independently assisting institutions and senior leadership in solving resource limitations with innovative results. She is an affiliated consultant with NACUBO Consulting and Small College Consulting, LLC. When she is not working, Bernadette enjoys her time either in Naples, Florida and Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Following a Bachelors and graduate work in Planning and Architecture at Nebraska & Oxford Dave Irvin started as a design architect before beginning a 40+ year career Educational Facilities Management. He has led University Facilities as Associate Vice President for Facilities in 5 states including at the Nebraska-Omaha, the University of Houston and the University of Tennessee. Recently he led a Facilities team of 1000+ at Florida State University overseeing Planning, Design, Construction, Maintenance, Operations,Sustainability, Environmental Health & Safety, Parking, Transportation and Emergency Management including 400 buildings, 22 million SF with an annual budget of $100M; and a $2 Billion Capital Construction/Renewal program. 

Dave also recently completed 4 years as International and National Chair for APPA, the Educational Facilities Management Professional Association and is a member of NACUBO Advising.

Aspects of his career include:
Developed Masterplans for 16 different Campuses and 6 all new campuses including Academic, Research, Housing, Transportation, Capital Renewal and City/Regional Plans
Created Total Cost of Ownership Models including revising Master and Strategic Plans to include Maintenance and Operating costs and long term Deferred Maintenance Strategies
Created new Post Covid Space Optimization Approaches, Strategies and Plans
At multiple Universities led Major Campuswide Facilities Service Department Reorganizations, in each case blending multiple Facilities Groups into one cohesive Team resulting in dramatic cost efficiencies/savings, improved service, increased Campus Mission Support and improved Facilities Team morale, recruitment and retention
At Houston, Tennessee and Florida State analyzed, then reorganized/streamlined Facilities and Capital policies and procedures dramatically saving time and money
Won national awards for Masterplan Innovation and Innovative Service to the Profession

Dave has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska and the University of Houston and also currently serves as Chair of APPA International.

Ruth A. Johnston is the acting vice president of consulting for NACUBO and the founder and owner of RAJ Consulting, LLC. She most recently served as the system vice chancellor and chief operating officer at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Over her nearly four-year tenure, Johnston oversaw vital areas, including finance and business services, facilities and services, enterprise risk management and safety, human resource services, information and communication technologies, government and community relations, and marketing and communications. Prior to this, Johnston held the role of vice chancellor for planning and administration at the University of Washington (UW) Bothell. Notably, she led the development of a pioneering hybrid budget model based on responsibility-centered management principles. In 2008, she established UW's sustainability office and masterminded the development of UW's Climate Action Plan. Johnston's educational journey is marked by a doctorate in organizational development and higher education, a master's degree in human relations, and a bachelor's in counseling psychology/social sciences.