Chad Marturano, vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Colorado (CU) system, discussed his background, leadership style, and current priorities in a recent interview. Marturano began his career in government and public policy with roles at the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting. He joined CU system administration in 2014 and has served as CFO since 2022.
Marturano advises system leadership, campus CFOs, state agencies, and the Board of Regents on decisions that affect CU’s mission to educate students, advance research, and provide health care. He is also co-chairing the development of CU’s second Strategic Plan.
Reflecting on what brought him to CU, 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 added: “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.”
Describing his approach to leadership, Marturano said: “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 continued: “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.”
Discussing his role as CFO for the university system Marturano noted: “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.”
He added: “Budgets aren’t just numbers — they’re value statements. 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 the meaning comes in,” he said further. “CU changes lives, sometimes in dramatic ways. Our faculty generate new knowledge, solve problems that have existed for generations and push humanity forward. Our graduates transform communities. Our health providers save lives. Being part of that ecosystem is humbling, and it reinforces why the work matters.”
With Colorado lawmakers set to address budget constraints affecting higher education funding when they reconvene next week—a process that impacts resources available for compensation increases as well as efforts to keep tuition affordable—Marturano explained how CU prepares: “We’re watching everything because all state agencies and programs are competing for the same General Fund dollars that support essential services across Colorado. State support is critical for CU. It affects our ability to provide compensation increases for faculty and staff as well as our ability to keep college within reach for Colorado students and families by keeping tuition in check.”
“We’re preparing the way we always do,” he said further,“by planning for multiple budget scenarios through the budget process with the CU Board of Regents.”
On a personal note outside his professional role at CU Marturano shared insights into his family life—he is married with three children—and enjoys running or hiking near Boulder or Mount Falcon in Jefferson County.
“I’m a husband and a dad to three kids,” he said.“During the workday,I try to block my lunch hour so I can take a walkand make calls.It’sthe perfect mixof productivityand stress relief.”
He added some lighter details about himself:“I also havea strange superpower:I can quote‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’and‘Caddyshack’linefor line.I don’t knowwhy my brain stores that instead ofs omething more useful.”
“Once ayear,I reread‘Man’s Searchfor Meaning.’It flips questionof life’s purpose back onto you:What meaningare you goingto create?It’sa powerful reminder,both professionallyand personally.”
