Dear Members of the Yale Community,
I am pleased to share that Geoffrey S. Chatas will join Yale as its next senior vice president for operations. He will assume his responsibilities on November 1, 2025. A dedicated advocate for the enduring importance of education, he has devoted the past fifteen years to supporting the mission of universities nationwide by leading finance and operations teams and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses.
Geoff comes to Yale from the University of Michigan, where he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer—a position he has held since 2021. In that role, he oversaw a broad and meaningful portfolio, which included the investment office, finance and accounting, enterprise strategic risk management, staff ombuds, facilities and campus operations, human resources, and shared services. He also led more than 2,600 employees.
Earlier in his career, Geoff was the senior vice president and chief operating officer for Georgetown University, where he managed a budget of $1.3 billion, more than 3,000 employees, and the planning of a new campus in downtown Washington, D.C. He has also served as the senior vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer for the Ohio State University. While overseeing OSU’s $6 billion budget, Geoff developed new strategies to raise and structure capital and implemented innovative private sector partnerships, offering a model for other institutions in higher education.
Prior to his work at public and private universities, Geoff was a managing director for the Infrastructure Investment Fund at JP Morgan Asset Management. He has also held positions at Progress Energy, American Electric Power, Banc One Capital Corporation, and Citibank.
Drawing on his vast experience, he brings to Yale a deep understanding of finance and fiscal management as well as a spirit of collaboration that I know will serve him—and all of us—well. Geoff is a creative and transparent leader, and he has proven himself to be future-oriented and devoted to the communities he serves. He is curious, approachable, and engaging, building consensus across various constituencies. Given the significant financial challenges of our current moment, I am looking forward to working in partnership with Geoff, who has demonstrated not only a willingness to experiment, but an enthusiasm for problem-solving.
Geoff is also a diligent volunteer who has served on the boards of a number of large organizations, including the Veritas Insurance Corporation, the Planned Protection Insurance Company, the Greenhill Schools, and more. I especially appreciate his experience with the University of Michigan’s Health Board, through which he’s become familiar with the inner workings of large medical and public health systems and the changing demands of health care.
Geoff and his spouse, Katie, are looking forward to becoming Connecticut residents again, having lived here decades ago, when Katie taught at an independent middle school in the Nutmeg State. Katie is excited to engage with local nonprofits and work with therapy programs alongside their professionally trained dog, Reiko. While I have no doubt we will keep him busy at Yale, I know Geoff is excited to explore local nature preserves and trails. His love for hiking and nature is exemplified by his service on the board of the Grand Canyon Conservancy, and both he and Katie will be making the most of our extraordinary local food and culture.
Geoff’s appointment is the result of a national search, undertaken with incredible care, deliberation, and diligence. I am grateful to those who participated. I also want to express profound thanks to Jack Callahan, Yale’s outgoing senior vice president for operations, who months ago shared his intention to retire, but who has continued to serve as we looked for his successor. His stabilizing leadership over the course of almost a decade has burnished Yale’s reputation around the globe. Here in New Haven, he has presided over a period of remarkable growth, from our expanded undergraduate population to our new and cutting-edge facilities. Across his full portfolio, he has set Yale up for success, and I am so appreciative of his service.
In the coming weeks, I look forward to welcoming Geoff to campus as he steps into this role and to working with him as we plan for Yale’s future. I know he will be an invaluable partner in the important work ahead.
Sincerely,
Maurie McInnis
President
Professor of the History of Art