P. Kelly Tompkins Named Interim Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer

June 5, 2024

Dear campus community,

I am pleased to inform you that P. Kelly Tompkins has agreed to serve as Interim Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer. Over his 40 years of varied legal, financial and corporate experience, Kelly has served as RPM International’s Chief Financial Officer and Cleveland Cliffs’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer as well as having served as Chief Legal Officer at these major Cleveland-based public companies. He is also a Senior Advisor at the public and investor relations firm Dix & Eaton.

Significantly, Kelly knows and cares deeply for CSU and is committed to our success. He is an alumnus of the CSU College of Law where, among many roles, he has chaired the Visiting Committee and, with Dean Lee Fisher, founded the P. Kelly Tompkins Leadership and Law Program and serves as a Leader in Residence, instructor and mentor.

Kelly has been a member of the CSU Board of Trustees since February 2023 and recently resigned his Board seat. As part of his duties as a member of our Board of Trustees, he was elected Treasurer, served on the Financial Affairs Committee and as Chair of the Real Estate and Facilities Subcommittee. During his time on our Board, I have developed deep respect for Kelly’s strategic thinking, extensive financial and operations knowledge, and overall leadership skills.

“My willingness to accept this role was predicated on not only my passion for and commitment to CSU but also my familiarity with the many talented members of the Business Affairs team,” Kelly said. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to lead such a terrific team during this critical period of transition. I am excited to get started and look forward to working constructively and collaboratively with President Bloomberg, the senior leadership team and my colleagues in the Business Affairs office.”

Kelly will begin in this interim role on June 10, and shortly, we will launch a search for our next chief financial officer.

Sincerely,

Laura Bloomberg, PhD
President