Chad Marturano, vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Colorado (CU) system, discussed his career path and perspectives on leadership and higher education funding in a recent interview. Marturano began his career working in various state government agencies, including the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting. These roles provided him with insight into how fiscal decisions affect communities across Colorado.
Marturano joined CU system administration in 2014. Since 2022, he has served as CU’s CFO, advising university leaders and campus financial officers on decisions that impact the university’s core missions—education, research, and health care. He also co-chairs the strategic planning process for CU’s second Strategic Plan, expected to be released in the summer.
A native of Colorado who earned a master’s degree at CU Denver, Marturano has family connections to CU Boulder; his father was one of Ralphie I’s original handlers when CU Boulder introduced its first live mascot in 1966.
When asked about what brought him to CU and what motivates him to stay, Marturano said: “I came to CU because I had the chance to work for someone I admired: University of Colorado President Todd Saliman. At the time, he was CU’s CFO and was already known as an incredible leader in higher education and state government. I thought, ‘If I get the opportunity to work for him and at a place like CU, why wouldn’t I take it?’ And I’m glad I did, because this really is the best CFO job in higher ed in Colorado.”
He continued: “What keeps me here is the impact. CU isn’t just an institution. We educate more than 68,000 students, employ over 33,000 people, conduct groundbreaking research and provide health care that literally saves lives. Being part of something bigger than myself matters deeply, and CU gives me that every day.”
Marturano described his leadership approach by saying: “My leadership philosophy is summed up by a simple principle: ‘Nothing about us without us.’ Before making decisions, I want to understand the perspectives of the people who will be affected by them. I don’t want anyone waking up to a surprise announcement and thinking, ‘No one talked to me about this.’”
He added: “I also see CU as a network of subject matter experts, not a hierarchy. My job is to bring smart people together, listen and collaborate so that decisions reflect collective wisdom, not one person’s point of view. When people feel included, they feel ownership. That’s how progress happens.”
Regarding his role as system CFO at CU he said: “There’s plenty of analysis, of course, but the biggest surprise is how relationship-based the job is. Half if not more of my day is spent talking with campus CFOs chancellors regents state agencies legislators and others. My work often looks more like diplomacy than math.”
“Budgets aren’t just numbers — they’re value statements,” Marturano explained further. “Every dollar we spend reflects who we are and what we stand for. I regularly ask a simple question that is simultaneously the easiest and hardest one: What are we getting with the dollars we’re spending? If the answer doesn’t connect to our mission we need to rethink it.”
“That’s where meaning comes in,” he said about working at CU. “CU changes lives sometimes in dramatic ways… Being part of that ecosystem is humbling and it reinforces why the work matters.”
With regard to upcoming budget discussions as lawmakers reconvene at Colorado’s Legislature amid limited funds available for higher education support across all state agencies Marturano noted: “We’re watching everything because all state agencies and programs are competing for the same General Fund dollars that support essential services across Colorado.” He emphasized that state support influences both compensation increases for faculty/staff as well as keeping tuition affordable.
“We’re preparing the way we always do by planning for multiple budget scenarios through budget process with Board Regents,” he stated.
On life outside work Marturano shared: “I’m a husband and dad to three kids which means many evenings resemble invasion Normandy – staging backpacks lunches clothes next day.” He tries taking walks during lunch hours while handling calls blending productivity with stress relief.
He enjoys running hiking particularly Mount Falcon near Jefferson County noting its views historical background involving plans once made for presidential retreat there before fire destroyed site leaving ruins today.
Marturano added humorously he can recite lines from classic films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Caddyshack line-for-line calling it an odd talent compared useful knowledge retention; each year rereads Man’s Search For Meaning reflecting on creating purpose personally professionally.
