Towson University President Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Kofi N. Ofori as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective May 20, following a comprehensive national search.

Ofori will serve as the university’s senior financial leader and a key strategic adviser as Towson enters its next phase of growth and institutional evolution. He will serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet and the university’s executive leadership team. He will provide strategic oversight of Towson University’s financial and administrative operations and play a central role in advancing the university’s strategic plan and presidential priorities.

“Kofi Ofori is an exceptional higher education leader with an impressive record of financial management, strategic stewardship, collaboration and innovation,” says TU President Mark Ginsberg. “At a pivotal moment for Towson University, his deep experience managing complex academic enterprises and aligning financial strategy with institutional priorities will be invaluable. I am confident he will be an outstanding partner to our academic and administrative leaders and a respected colleague in support of our university community.”

Ofori currently serves as chief financial officer for Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, where he oversees an approximately a $1.8 billion operating budget and helps steward a $22 billion endowment. He provides executive-level leadership for one of the nation’s most complex academic enterprises, encompassing Harvard College, multiple graduate and professional programs, research centers and extensive administrative and auxiliary operations. In this role, he works closely with academic and administrative leaders to integrate operating, capital and long-range financial planning, modernize financial systems and practices, and ensure that resources are allocated strategically, transparently and in alignment with institutional priorities.

“I am honored to join Towson University and excited for the opportunity to support its mission and continued momentum,” says Ofori. “TU’s commitment to student success, academic excellence, access and equity deeply resonates with me. I look forward to working collaboratively with the university community to advance a financial strategy that strengthens academic priorities, promotes transparency and supports long-term sustainability."

Previously, Ofori served as senior associate dean for finance and administration at Johns Hopkins University’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, where he provided comprehensive oversight of finance, human resources, information technology, research administration and facilities and capital planning. He managed a $500 million operating budget and a $750 million endowment, led a team of more than 100 staff and strengthened governance, compliance and resource-planning processes to support the school’s academic mission.

Earlier in his career, Ofori held progressively senior financial leadership roles at Arizona State University, New York University and Pennsylvania State University, where he was recognized for addressing structural deficits, implementing performance- and data-informed financial models and guiding institutions through periods of growth and transformation.

A highly strategic and collaborative leader, Ofori brings deep expertise in higher education finance, capital planning, budget development and organizational leadership. His work reflects a strong commitment to ethical stewardship, shared governance, inclusive decision-making and the thoughtful alignment of financial strategy with academic priorities, access, equity and long-term institutional sustainability.

Towson University thanks Michael Palmer for his thoughtful, solutions-oriented and committed service as interim chief financial officer and for the leadership he provided during this important transition.

For media inquiries, email Jamie Abell at .

About Towson University

Towson University is Maryland’s university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, TU is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, TU’s momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and nearly 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast’s cultural and economic epicenters, TU is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. TU meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.