Jim Murtha
Special Consultant
Jim serves as a special consultant for Maguire Associates on strategic planning, financial analysis, leadership, and governance. In his thirty plus year higher education career, he has held senior roles in both public and private institutions. Until recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The New School in Manhattan (he is currently special advisor to the President). As the University’s chief administrator for over 13 years, Jim worked closely with former President Bob Kerrey to expand and improve facilities, bolster finances, grow degree enrollment, and expand the ranks of full-time faculty. In 1979, while completing his doctorate in sociology at Columbia University, Jim secured a research position at The City University of New York (CUNY). He and his colleagues conducted numerous studies on post-graduation status, retention, and the effects of educational interventions in predicting success in college. This work figured prominently in improving CUNY’s academic reputation and setting the stage for major reforms. Beginning in 1985, Jim directed CUNY’s institutional research effort, and later served as associate dean for planning, acting budget director, and finally as university dean for information services. In 1995, he joined Baruch College as Vice President for Administration where he managed several rounds of budget reductions, modernized technology and collaborated with the Provost to expand greatly the college’s summer offerings. He launched a vertical campus construction project, which now provides Baruch’s students and faculty a state-of-the art educational, recreational and performing arts facility. Jim has served as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University, Queens College (CUNY), St. John’s University and Baruch. In fall 2011, he will re-join the Baruch faculty to teach a graduate course: The Financing of Higher Education. He chairs the Board of Trustees of New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire and serves as Treasurer of the Union Square Partnership in New York City. Jim can be reached at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
