Growth and Strategic Scale: Texas A&M University CBO John Crawford on Stewarding Financial Success

John Crawford is vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. In this episode, Crawford joins our host Donna Schiele to discuss following in his father's CPA footsteps, managing Texas A&M's massive $2.5 billion budget during a tuition freeze, and navigating the evolving landscape of higher education finance.   "I think evaluating the P3 [public-private partnership] opportunities is crucial," Crawford says, highlighting the importance of strategic financial management in modern higher education. "We as a leadership team just have to be more strategic in how we approach things." Crawford emphasizes how universities must adapt to new funding realities while maintaining public confidence and institutional growth.   Join us for a conversation with Crawford as he shares insights about centralizing financial operations across campus, balancing infrastructure investments with affordable tuition, and the vital role of professional organizations like NACUBO and SACUBO in developing higher education finance leaders.   Links Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief