Christopher Joyce has taken office as the University’s new Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Joyce replaces Earnest W. Porta Jr., who had been serving as acting vice president and treasurer for 11 months.
University President John J. DeGioia announced Joyce’s appointment Dec. 17, 2002 following a national search process that involved several administrators and faculty members.
The CFO and Treasurer is responsible for all aspects of the University’s financial affairs, including developing and maintaining revenue streams, coordinating financial policies and managing all finance-related administration services.
Before coming to Georgetown, Joyce served four years as Chief Financial Officer at Cable & Wireless Global, a telecommunications firm. Before joining Cable & Wireless Global, he spent nearly 20 years at AT&T and its subsidiaries in a variety of capacities, including as vice president and chief financial officer of the company’s international division. Joyce graduated from Hofstra University and received an MBA from Cornell University.
“I am honored to be joining the University as its new CFO, excited by the role that I have been asked to play, and look forward to working with colleagues across the University in the New Year,” Joyce said in a press release.
According to a letter from DeGioia to the University community, Joyce has experience in increasing revenue and limiting operating losses and is looking forward to applying that experience in an academic setting.
“Strong leadership and innovative thinking are imperative in order to ensure the firm financial footing that will enable Georgetown University to achieve ambitious goals in the coming years. I am confident that Chris will provide that leadership and vision,” DeGioia said of Joyce in a University press release.
Porta has returned to his previous position of assistant vice president and assistant treasurer. He has indicated that he plans to stay in this role through the end of June, which is also the end of the University’s fiscal year, and then leave to pursue doctoral studies.
Porta was involved in a lawsuit in September when Monica Estes, a former employee, sued Georgetown, claiming that Porta had fired her after she complained that he was creating a sexually hostile work environment.
U.S. District Court jury awarded Monica Estes, who served as the University’s cash manager from 1993 to 1996, $1.09 million in back pay and compensatory and punitive damages in the case. It is unclear whether the University will appeal the verdict.
