Eric Leal Named VP for Finance and Administration at Oberlin

Eric Leal, a finance professional with more than 20 years of experience in financial management and strategic leadership in higher education, health care, and government sectors, has been named Vice President for Finance and Administration at Oberlin. His appointment concludes a comprehensive national search.

Leal will begin on May 18.

The VP for Finance and Administration is a pivotal role that oversees Oberlin’s Finance and Investment offices, Facilities Operations and Planning, and the Center for Information Technology. The position is part of Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar’s Executive Leadership Team.

“Eric stood out for his strategic financial leadership and his ability to partner effectively across complex organizations, bringing people together to address challenges and advance institutional priorities,” says Ambar.

“He has a strong track record of aligning financial strategy with institutional goals, communicating complex issues clearly, and guiding organizations through periods of change with transparency and care. We’re very fortunate to have him at Oberlin.”

From 2019 to 2024, Leal served as Associate Dean for Budget and Administration at American University, where he was the chief financial and operating officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, overseeing 19 departments and more than 500 employees. During his tenure, he developed a budget strategy to address a 35 percent reduction in the operating budget during COVID while preserving jobs. 

Most recently, Leal was Vice President for Administration and Finance/Treasurer at Delaware County Community College in suburban Philadelphia, where he led all administrative and business operations. He previously held senior administration and finance roles at Howard University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Before transitioning to higher ed, Leal was an interim Chief Financial Officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Chief Operating Officer for the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, and he spent 14 years in a range of administrative positions with the U.S. Air Force.

“I am honored and excited that President Ambar asked me to join her team,” says Leal. “I was impressed by the deep sense of community and commitment to Oberlin among everyone I’ve met when visiting campus. I look forward to partnering with the Executive Leadership Team and people across campus to advance Oberlin’s mission in support of faculty, staff, and students.”

Leal is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers and the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arizona.