Mike's journey from a first-generation college student, Pell recipient, and US Army Infantryman, to the founder of Unicus Decision Support encapsulates the transformative potential of higher education. Starting as a community college student and culminating in a PhD, Mike's path is marked by resilience and a deep commitment to making higher education accessible and effective for all. His pivotal experience as an undergraduate at an open enrollment university served to heighten his awareness of the challenges faced by non-traditional students, fueling his commitment to an industry seeking to provide access and support to those with similar demographics.

With 25+ years of diverse experience across college and university campuses, Mike has established a deep expertise in academic cost stewardship, organizational improvement, and strategic budgeting. His recent tenure with a global higher education consulting firm, where he spearheaded a broad portfolio of academic and finance projects at more than 55 institutions, has further developed his higher education expertise and strengthened his desire to serve the industry. Mike believes that the cornerstone of a successful higher education community lies in informed decision-making, underpinned by meaningful collaboration and transparency. This belief inspired the creation of Unicus Decision Support, an open resource dedicated to aligning academic missions with sustainable financial practices.

His journey in higher education is more than a professional trajectory; it is a personal mission to empower colleges and universities to better serve their students, faculty, staff, and communities. His unique amalgamation of experiences as a student, veteran, teacher, researcher, executive, and consultant equips him as a distinguished leader in higher education, poised to continue his enduring contributions to the sector.

One More Hill