Purdue’s first CFO of the Year honoree, Chris Ruhl describes his role with the university as ‘incredibly rewarding and fun’

Chris Ruhl has enjoyed the ride the last five years – arguably the most dynamic time in Purdue University’s history. 

As executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, Ruhl has played an essential role on a journey to grow the university and elevate its impact and reputation. Consider:

• Student affordability – ongoing tuition freeze and the most affordable housing and dining rates in the Big Ten, allowing 60% of Purdue students to graduate debt-free.
• Dramatic growth of the university and strategic investment of resources through Purdue’s Next Moves.
• Largest faculty and staff salary increases in more than 20 years.
• A variety of benefit programs that focus on high-quality health care and customer service for employees and their families while containing costs.
• Over a half-billion dollars in new academic and research facilities on the West Lafayette campus.
• Reduction in the university’s institutional debt by 25%.

“My role is incredibly rewarding and fun,” said Ruhl, who was recognized Dec. 9 in Indianapolis as an honoree for CFO of the Year in the education and government category by the Indianapolis Business Journal, the first honoree in Purdue history.

“This recognition is validation that the big ideas and strategic direction set by our board, President Daniels and the senior leadership team are enhancing the university’s reputation and impact, in central Indiana, the state and globally. We’ve built a first-class team of talent from within and outside of higher education, and I’m thrilled to accept this honor on behalf of our team who believes deeply in our assignment to provide higher education at the highest proven value.”

Chris Ruhl with Laurinda Swank, IBJ Media COO and CFO. (IBJ photo/Eric Learned) Download image

For 15 years, the IBJ has annually honored chief financial officers in Indiana across a variety of industries, from public and private companies, to schools, governments, health care organizations and nonprofits. A link to the IBJ’s 2022 CFO of the Year publication can be found here.

“Chris has been a central figure in making possible hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment in teaching, learning and discovery at Purdue, all while ensuring that the Purdue experience remains accessible and affordable to students through a decade of frozen tuition and lower overall student costs,” President Mitch Daniels said. “His is a financial achievement without parallel in American higher education.”

Ruhl also is cited by the IBJ for his role in assisting with Purdue’s navigation of the global pandemic. He skillfully led and partnered with other units across the university on strategic management and financial decisions that enabled the university to emerge from COVID-19 financially stronger than it was going into it.

“The combination of skills required to support our growth with leadership of the financial, human resources and information technology functions, while addressing the acute financial issues involved in pivoting the entire university to continue successful and safe operations in the teeth of the pandemic, has been instrumental to our success during this dynamic time,” said Jay Akridge, Purdue provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity.

Ruhl became Purdue’s chief financial officer and treasurer in 2020. He also serves as treasurer of the Purdue Board of Trustees and CFO for Purdue Global. The latest extension of the university’s land-grant mission, Purdue Global has grown enrollment of online working adults by 20% to nearly 35,000 students since its transformation from Kaplan University in 2018.

Prior to joining Purdue as senior vice president for strategic initiatives in 2017, Ruhl was the senior vice president, chief financial officer and general counsel at Ivy Tech Community College from 2012-17. Additionally, he has served as director of the Indiana Office of Management and Budget (OMB), director of the Indiana State Budget Agency, and policy director and general counsel for the Indiana OMB under then-Gov. Daniels.