Howard Payne University’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance and Administration Michael Rodgers will retire at the end of 2024. Rodgers has served in the position for eight years, providing leadership to the finance, human resources and facilities and planning divisions of the university.
“Mike has provided excellent leadership over the financial resources of the university and has led us to operate in the black for the last five consecutive years,” said Dr. Cory Hines, university president. “He leads with excellence and has remained committed to Christian values in his work, which has allowed our university to thrive.”
Gene Deason, chair of the Board of Directors of HPU’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, presented the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Freedom Medal to Rodgers at the retirement reception held on Monday. The medal is awarded by the Academy Board for excellence in service and representation of the ideals of the Academy program.
During his time as CFO, Rodgers has overseen over 40 building projects totaling more than $21 million including the Newbury Family Welcome Center, renovations to the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, construction on the new Ben and Bertha Mieth Outdoor Pavilion, among many others.
Rodgers received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Master of Arts in Christian Education degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Master of Humanities degree from the University of Dallas.
Prior to his role at HPU, Rodgers served as vice president of business and chief financial officer at Criswell College in Dallas. He has held several administrative roles at First Baptist Academy in Dallas and All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler. He has additional experience working with the Dallas Seminary Foundation and with private accounting firms and has maintained his CPA license since 1979. He and his wife, Jane, have been married 46 years. Their son, Jake, and his wife, Rachel, have two children and live in Cuming, Georgia. The Rodgers’ daughter, Carrie, lives in Atlanta, Georgia.