Stephen T. Golding, a seasoned professional with experience in higher education financial affairs, investment management, strategic resource planning and government, has been appointed to be the first Samuel W. Bodman Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration at Cornell University.

Golding's nomination by Cornell President Jeffrey S. Lehman was approved by the Executive Committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees at a special meeting Feb. 1. He will assume the post full time in April.

"Steve brings an extraordinary range of experience to the role," said Lehman. "He has held positions of responsibility at one of our nation's finest private universities and at one of our most complex public university systems; he has worked for an outstanding investment firm, and he has held a position of great responsibility in state government. Those who have worked closely with him in the past speak enthusiastically of his intellect, his drive and his humanity. We are delighted to be welcoming him to the administrative leadership of Cornell."

As executive vice president, Golding will be a member of the president's senior management team, advising on university policies and strategies. He will be responsible for implementing financial policies and managing most of the university's financial and administrative functions and operations on the Ithaca campus. He also will work closely with administration at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and will be involved in operations of eCornell, the Cornell Center for Technology and other university enterprises.

The executive vice president position has been endowed by the Bodman Foundation to honor Samuel W. Bodman, a 1960 graduate of Cornell who was confirmed on Jan. 31 as U.S. Secretary of Energy. Golding succeeds Harold D. (Hal) Craft, who has served as vice president for administration and chief financial officer since 2000.

Golding, 56, comes to Cornell from the University of Colorado System, for which he has served as vice president for budget and finance since June 2003.