The University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce has appointed Justin B. Thompson Ph.D. as Senior Associate Dean for Administration and Chief Financial Officer, effective Feb. 2. Thompson joins McIntire following a distinguished career in senior academic and administrative leadership at UVA, bringing more than two decades of experience in finance, operations, strategic planning, and institutional advancement.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Justin to McIntire at a pivotal moment for the School,” said McIntire Interim Dean Amanda Cowen. “Justin brings a data-informed approach to financial and administrative leadership, deep experience facilitating complex cross-functional teams, and a proven ability to align resources with strategy. His commitment to operational excellence and developing people will be essential as we continue to advance our academic and research mission.”
Thompson comes to McIntire from the UVA School of Education and Human Development (EHD), where he has served for the past 13 years as Senior Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he oversaw all academic, administrative, and clinical operations for a complex enterprise with projected annual revenue exceeding $120 million. His portfolio spanned budget and finance, human resources, information technology, facilities and capital projects, community safety, clinical services, marketing and communications, fundraising, and policy and planning.
Thompson’s operational leadership and executive partnership were critical to helping the school build substantial financial reserves, increase graduate and undergraduate enrollment by 37%, double sponsored research activity to nearly $64 million in annual awards, and meet a $100 million fundraising goal three years ahead of schedule. These efforts contributed to EHD’s rise from 32nd to sixth in national rankings, strengthening its reputation as a highly effective and well-resourced academic enterprise.
Thompson previously served on University-wide strategic planning initiatives, including the Commission on the Future of the University, and has played a key role in the development and refinement of UVA’s financial model. He currently serves on the University Financial Model 3.0 Working Group, advising senior leadership on future enhancements to the institution’s budgeting framework. He has led the development of analytics and reporting systems adopted across multiple UVA schools and conducted longstanding fair compensation analyses to support the success of faculty and staff.
Thompson will continue his academic appointment as an Associate Professor at EHD, in the Department of Education Leadership, Foundations, and Policy. His academic work in higher education administration keeps him closely connected to emerging research, leadership trends, and the diverse institutional contexts that shape colleges and universities. He has taught graduate courses in management, planning, budgeting, finance, governance, and the history of higher education.
“McIntire is an exceptional community with a strong culture, talented faculty and staff, and ambitious aspirations. The School attracts and develops outstanding students who are placed in many of the most innovative and consequential companies around the world,” Thompson said. “It is an honor to draw on my professional and academic experiences to support the School’s mission and provide the operational foundation needed for continued excellence.”
Thompson holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, an M.S. from Western Illinois University, and a B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.
