Elmhurst University has announced that Kurt Ashley will become the University’s interim vice president for business and finance/CFO. His new role begins on June 1 and will continue through the 2025-26 academic year.
“Kurt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role from previous interim assignments in the business and finance areas,” said Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken. “I appreciate Kurt’s commitment and expertise in guiding these critical areas during this transitional period, and I know he’ll help to keep us on our successful path.”
Ashley currently is vice president for operations and technology at Elmhurst, a role that oversees the offices of information services, marketing and communications, and facilities management.
His new business and finance role, which includes student financial aid services, will be redefined to include most of his other current responsibilities.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to lead this vital aspect of University operations, and greatly appreciate the support of the Board of Trustees and senior leadership in extending the invitation,” he said.
Since joining the University in 2016, Ashley has been involved in a number of significant institutional projects. He is overseeing construction of the $30 million Health Sciences Building, the first new building on campus in 17 years. From 2021 to 2022, he oversaw a $9 million boiler-chiller project that modernized the chilling operation and decentralized the heating operation, improving heating efficiency by 30 percent.
With the marketing and communications team, Ashley helped to lead the University’s recently completed branding initiative. When Elmhurst College changed its name to Elmhurst University, Ashley managed the budget for the myriad items (from business cards to the Gates of Knowledge) that had to be updated, replaced or reconfigured. In addition, his teams annually completed technology and facilities upgrades throughout campus classrooms, labs, and residential and athletics facilities.
Before coming to Elmhurst, Ashley served as vice president for technology and marketing at Thiel College in Pennsylvania. He has a master’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University and a bachelor’s of business administration in management of information technology from Cleary University in Michigan.