Colorado State University System Names Rich Schweigert New Chief Financial Officer

Colorado State University System Chancellor Larry Edward Penley today announced Rich Schweigert as the system’s new chief financial officer, pending approval by the Board of Governors.

In this newly created position, Schweigert, a Colorado State alumnus, will serve as the chief fiscal and budget officer for the Colorado State University System, providing overall leadership and management on financial matters for the system, the Board of Governors and all component institutions – a role that was previously handled on a part-time basis by the chief budget officer on the Fort Collins campus.

"This change is an acknowledgement that the role of system CFO requires full-time attention," Penley said. "The creation of this position represents an important step in assuring the efficient and responsible stewardship of Colorado State system-wide resources."

The system CFO has responsibility for financial reporting and financial management, as well as oversees the system’s revenues, expenses, capital expenditures, investments and debt. The chief budget officers on the Fort Collins and Pueblo campuses will have dual reporting relationships with responsibility to campus leadership as well as to the system CFO.  

Schweigert will be based at CSU-Denver and report to the chancellor and serve as a member of the chancellor’s senior staff.

Schweigert currently serves as vice president of finance and administration at Mesa State College. Prior to joining Mesa State, he served as CFO for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

Schweigert began his professional career with the state of Colorado as a senior budget analyst in the Governor’s office. He later became deputy legislative director then director of government relations. He worked as president of the Division of Correctional Industries from 1998 to 2002, and served as chief financial officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections from June 2002 to June 2003 before joining the CCHE.

Schweigert obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado State in 1984.

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