Carnegie Mellon University

February 24, 2017

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon University Community,

I am delighted to inform you of two important appointments to Carnegie Mellon’s executive leadership, effective March 1. Angela Blanton has been named vice president for Finance and chief financial officer for the university. Cathy Light has been named secretary of the corporation and chief of staff, coordinating internal and external stakeholder interactions with the Office of the President.

Both Angela and Cathy have distinguished themselves since last summer, while serving the university in these roles on an interim basis. They have both brought energy, skill and leadership to these critical roles, making strong additions to the university’s executive team. Following extensive consultation with university stakeholders and trustees, they have now been promoted to fill these positions.

Angela joined Carnegie Mellon in 2015 as director of operations in the university’s Finance Division. Following her interim appointment last year, she has been directly responsible for providing strategic leadership for the university’s business and finance functions, as well as for the management of its financial and capital resources. She also oversees Audit Services, the Treasurer’s Office, the Controller’s Office, Budget and Financial Planning, Procurement, and Business Systems and Services.

Angela started her career as an electrical engineer with Delphi Automotive and Chrysler. She then worked at PPG Industries in various financial analyst roles in the Chemicals, Glass and Coatings business units and controllership areas. Angela moved to PNC Financial Services and served as a finance manager in the Retail Banking controllership function before transferring to the PNC Finance Project Management Office. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, Angela was the CFO for PNC Financial Services brokerage investment business.

Angela received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business.

Cathy has served the Office of the President since 2007, most recently as director of the Office of the President and interim secretary of the corporation. In her new positions, she will oversee the Office of the President, and additionally manage and support the activities of the board of trustees. She also will serve as the point of contact for various constituent groups, planning and guiding the initiatives and activities of the president and other senior leaders as they relate to internal operations and global external relationships. 

Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon in 2007, Cathy served from 1985 to 2007 in a variety of management positions with the Institute for Shipboard Education, which operates the Semester at Sea study-abroad program, previously sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. Her responsibilities spanned the management of global operations, academic field programs, communications, human resources, budgeting, risk management and coordination between the land-based office and shipboard campus.

Cathy earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Carlow University and will graduate with her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Robert Morris University this summer. Cathy also completed CMU’s inaugural Leadership Academy in 2009.

Please join me in congratulating Angela and Cathy for their promotions and thanking them for their leadership and service to Carnegie Mellon University.

Sincerely,

Subra Suresh
President
Henry L. Hillman President’s Chair
Carnegie Mellon University