David Gray was appointed executive vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer (CFO) for WashU, effective April 7, 2025. Previously, he served as interim senior vice chancellor for finance and CFO for WashU from August 2024 through April 4, 2025 while employed by Huron Consulting Group. As WashU’s CFO, Gray is responsible for oversight of the Financial Services division, which is comprised of Financial Planning & Budgets, Accounting Services, Office of the Treasurer, Financial Information Systems, Sponsored Projects Accounting, and the Shared Business Services Hub. Key activities within Gray’s domain of responsibilities include preparation and adoption of the university’s annual budget, multi-year financial planning, preparation and independent audit of annual financial statements, debt issuance and management, cash management, risk and insurance management, and accounting for all sponsored grants received by the university.
Prior to joining WashU, Gray served as a Senior Advisor for Huron Consulting Group. He focused on strategic advisory services to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. Areas of emphasis included organizational strategy and change, budget/financial management, enterprise transformation, strategic IT planning, investment management, and performance metrics.
David was recognized as Senior Vice President for Finance and Business/Treasurer Emeritus at The Pennsylvania State University, having retired from this role at the end of December 2020 after nearly nine years of service. As Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, he was responsible for the management of Finance and Business and the strategic and budgetary planning process for the unit, which included the offices of Physical Plant, Human Resources, University Police, Investment Management, Auxiliary and Business Services, Corporate Controller, Enterprise Project Management, Risk Management, Procurement Services, Internal Audit, Ethics and Compliance, and Commonwealth Campus Business Operations, as well as lead financial, endowment, business and administrative activities at all Penn State campuses. He chaired the Penn State Investment Council and served on the board of directors of Penn State Health (a university-controlled regional health care provider).
Prior to joining Penn State, David served as Senior Vice President for Administration, Finance, and Technology and University Treasurer for the University of Massachusetts from 2008 to 2012 where he served as the chief financial and administrative officer for the University. While at UMass, he also served in the positions of Chief Information Officer and Vice President for Information Technology (2000 – 2008) and Chief Executive Officer of UMass Online (2003 – 2008).
Previously, David served as the Vice Chancellor for Information Technology for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education from 1995 to 2000 and as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Financial Management from 1990 to 1995. David also served in various administrative, policy formulation, and financial management posts for the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
David currently serves on the boards of directors of the Centre County Airport Authority, Centre Care (nonprofit skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility), and the Mount Nittany Conservancy. He previously served on the boards of directors for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, the Centre County United Way, the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (a.k.a. Internet2), and the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and has been active in EDUCAUSE, NACUBO, and a variety of professional and community service organizations. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an MPA degree, both from Penn State University. David is a 2021 recipient of Penn State’s Alumni Fellow Award, the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association.