FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Philip McCabe, current vice president for finance at Sacred Heart University, will be promoted to the role of the University’s senior vice president (SVP) for finance effective June 1, 2020. He takes up the position upon the retirement of current SVP Michael Kinney. McCabe began his Sacred Heart career in 2000, when he was hired as the assistant vice president for finance. Sacred Heart had opened the SVP search nationally, before finding the ideal candidate within its ranks.
“I am honored and appreciate the trust the University has shown in asking me to expand my role with Dr. Petillo and a talented, dedicated leadership team,” said McCabe. He looks forward to “helping Sacred Heart University achieve a truly exciting strategic plan in a rapidly changing higher education landscape.”
McCabe will report directly to John Petillo, president of Sacred Heart University. “Phil has led innovations in systems and processes to support the University’s growth in size and complexity during his tenure,” said Petillo. “He has played important roles, both internal and external, in many strategic initiatives.”
In his new role, McCabe will continue to be an integral member of the senior leadership team and work closely with other senior leaders to provide strategic and operational direction to ensure the financial health of the University. He will establish the objectives, scope of services, structure and staffing for the financial division while ensuring focus on Sacred Heart’s mission and the achievement of the University’s goals.
“When I joined Sacred Heart University 19 years ago, I was seeking an institution where I could help achieve a mission that I valued. Sacred Heart provided that opportunity then, and every day since, through its steadfast commitment to helping our students grow into young adults who will make a difference in the world,” said McCabe.
McCabe holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Siena College and a master’s in finance and management from RPI – Hartford Graduate Center. Before coming to Sacred Heart, McCabe enjoyed a successful 23-year career in the financial services and insurance industry, working for Prudential, Mass Mutual and The Hartford Insurance Group.
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 385 Colleges–2020 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 252 Business Schools–2019 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theater. www.sacredheart.edu