Dear Fordham,

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Tokumbo Shobowale as our next CFO (as well as senior vice president and treasurer), effective October 13, 2023. Tokumbo comes to us from The New School, where he has served as the executive vice president for business and operations for the past ten years. He managed a similar portfolio to ours, including IT, endowment management, and human resources. He navigated financial constraints to find new opportunities and improve the institution’s credit outlook. He instilled the kind of long-term budget planning that leads to real strategy. He was renowned both for his vision and for his strong belief in transparency and shared governance.  

Before entering higher education, Tokumbo was the director of infrastructure for New York City’s Initiative on Rebuilding and Resiliency, a response to Hurricane Sandy. He also served as chief of staff to the deputy mayor for Economic Development, overseeing more than a dozen agencies, and as chief operating officer of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Tokumbo grew up in Minneapolis before spending most of his life in New York. He graduated from Stanford University and then earned two master's degrees, graduating at the top of his class: an M.A. from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.  He then chose a life of public service.  

I am grateful to the faculty and administrators who served on the search committee, chaired by Provost Dennis Jacobs, for the successful national search. Their hard work will have a meaningful impact on the trajectory of Fordham.

Please join me in welcoming Tokumbo and his family to the Fordham community. 

All my best,

Tania Tetlow
President