AM24: The Higher Education Scorecard: The Big 12 CBOs’ Collaborative Initiative

Gerald Hector is the senior vice president for administration and finance at the University of Central Florida. He oversees accounting, finance, human resources, campus safety, auxiliary enterprises, and all aspects of facilities management.

Before joining UCF, he was the executive vice president and chief business officer for Morehouse College, and prior to that, vice president for financial affairs and university treasurer for Cornell University. He has also held similar leadership roles at Ithaca College and Johnson C. Smith University. Before joining higher education, he was the Corporate Controller for the United Negro College Fund and a public accountant with then Deloitte and Touche.

As an author, his first published work has birthed a podcast series (It's Easy Son) where he engages thought leaders on matters of early career paths and where they are today. He has worked to launch the $1 billion plus Gates Millennium Scholars program while at UNCF and most recently led the efforts at Morehouse College to assist students through the generous gift of Mr. Robert Smith.

Hector is an honors graduate from Howard University where he majored in accounting and holds a Master of Christian Thought degree from the Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Curtis Reynolds began serving as the vice president of business and finance and the chief financial officer at Baylor University in March 2024. In this capacity, he is responsible for effectively ensuring the university's financial strength and operating efficiency by initiating and maintaining progressive systems of financial planning, reporting, business development, and reliable revenue streams that enable university leadership to make informed and fiscally responsible decisions in fulfillment of Baylor's Christian mission. 

Reynolds previously served as vice president for business affairs for the University of Florida, where he was responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of a diversified portfolio of campus business and support services. He established Florida's campus master plan and negotiated development agreements with city and county constituencies for the 16 colleges, 2,000-acre main campus in Gainesville, and support facilities extensions across 67 counties in the state.

Reynolds earned a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MBA from the University of Alabama.

As the chief financial officer and senior vice president of administration and finance, Noel Sloan partners with university leaders to support growth and strategic initiatives while ensuring accountability for financial operations is maintained and risk is minimized. She is also a member of the President's Cabinet.

Sloan came to Texas Tech University in 2006. Prior to being selected as the chief financial officer in January 2014, she served in the role of managing director for financial services and tax. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Rawls College of Business teaching income tax and managerial accounting.

Before shifting to higher education, Noel practiced law at Michael, Best Friedrich and worked in public accounting at Arthur Anderson in Wisconsin.

Rick Strasser’s professional advisory experience includes leading a variety of strategy and technology engagements across the not-for-profit, higher education, federal government, and healthcare industries. He has extensive experience advising university executives, not-for-profit executives, senior government executives, military general officers, and Congressional staff, and directing the capture and delivery of engagements ranging from strategic, targeted projects to large, complex programs with global teams. His more than two decades of advisory experience with mission-driven organizations includes organizational strategy, university budget strategy, multi-year financial projections and modeling, strategic reserves planning, business process reengineering, IT organizational strategy, and change management and training strategy, business application of artificial intelligence, research strategy, and technology effectiveness.

Strasser received an MBA from the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management and a master's of public administration (Executive) from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He received a bachelor's of arts in history from Wabash College.

Matt Unterman is the leader of Grant Thornton’s Higher Education and Not-for-Profit Advisory Services Practice.  In addition, Unterman leads Grant Thornton’s Higher Education Sector, overseeing our firm’s offerings and activities to colleges and universities. Unterman has served over 150 higher education institutions and not-for-profit organizations during his career at the firm.

Unterman received an MBA in strategy and finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He holds a bachelor's of arts in sociology from Haverford College.