New Vice President for Administration and Finance to join McDaniel

McDaniel College has named Eric Simon as the college’s new vice president for Administration and Finance following a national search. Simon comes to McDaniel after serving as assistant vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He assumes the role at McDaniel effective June 1, 2021.

McDaniel College has named Eric Simon as the college’s new vice president for Administration and Finance following a national search. He assumes the role at McDaniel effective June 1, 2021.

Simon comes to McDaniel after serving as assistant vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). In this role, he has oversight of business operations, facilities, human resources, and information technology. He has also been involved on numerous university committees including those focused on campus operations, diversity, strategic planning, and pandemic response.

At UNCW, he has worked to maximize administrative and financial processes while ensuring the priorities of the institution are met. He has been responsible for the annual budget and has managed a growing portfolio of assets, while being involved in the long-term planning of capital investment projects. He was also part of the team that oversaw a new multi-million dollar student housing complex.

He was previously the executive director for the student center and auxiliary services business development at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the director of the student activities center and department of campus life at Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga.

“Eric brings more than 20 years of broad experience in higher education and has a history of collaboration on several different campuses. I look forward to having him on board this summer,” said current McDaniel Provost Julia Jasken, who will become the college’s 10th president as of June 1.

As a member of the senior leadership team at McDaniel, Simon will serve as the chief financial officer and will provide leadership and oversight of the college’s administrative functions. He will be responsible for budget planning and oversight, campus construction and renovation, management of the college’s endowment and operations, including campus planning, improvements and maintenance, human resources, for-profit rentals and contractual agreements, as well as WMC Development Corporations, the college’s for-profit enterprise. He will also serve as the liaison to the Board of Trustees on the Audit, Finance and Facilities, and Investment committees.

"I am very excited to join the McDaniel College family,” said Simon. “McDaniel is nationally recognized for its educational excellence and success in helping students change their lives and improve their social mobility. I look forward to partnering with the faculty and staff to identify the necessary resources to build on McDaniel’s history of success in providing a transformational, engaging, and affordable student experience."

Simon earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University and obtained a Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University. He will complete his Ph.D. in Higher Education this summer from Illinois State University.

“Eric brings more than 20 years of broad experience in higher education and has a history of collaboration on several different campuses. I look forward to having him on board this summer.”

Julia Jasken

May 3, 2021

Photography by Bradley Pearce/UNCW