Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Dean of Administration and Finance

We are pleased to announce that Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences has appointed Warren Petrofsky as dean of administration and finance, effective April 20. Petrofsky brings extensive experience leading financial strategy and administrative operations within large, decentralized Arts and Sciences organizations.

Petrofsky joins FAS from Cornell University’s College of Arts & Sciences, where he serves as associate dean of administration and chief administrative officer. In that role, he has overseen an expansive portfolio encompassing finance and budget, capital planning, human resources, information technology and data analytics, research administration, and auxiliary operations. Working closely with faculty leadership, he has advanced transparent budget processes, multi‑year financial modeling, and data‑informed decision‑making to align resources with academic priorities and long‑term sustainability.

Earlier in his career at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences, Petrofsky held senior leadership roles overseeing major capital initiatives and organizational redesign across facilities and computing. Trained as a classicist and deeply grounded in the academic enterprise, he brings a collaborative leadership style and a disciplined approach to execution. His appointment positions FAS to continue modernizing its administrative systems in support of teaching and research.

Warren earned his A.B. in Classics from the University of Pennsylvania, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and later completed an M.A. in Classics at Brown University before receiving his MBA from the Wharton School.

Read the full press release here.

Daniel Rodas led this search with Amble Ryan, Stephanie Simon, and Nicole Sancilio.