Media Contact:
Tara G. Cunningham
Dillard University
tcunningham@dillard.edu
(504) 816-4024
NEW ORLEANS – Dillard University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dexter I. Odom, CPA, MBA, as Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer. With more than four decades of transformative leadership in higher education, nonprofit administration, business ownership, and financial strategy, Odom brings a wealth of experience in fiscal management and operational excellence to Dillard University.
A Certified Public Accountant and seasoned executive, Odom has built a distinguished career leading strategic financial initiatives and driving institutional sustainability. Before joining Dillard, he served as Senior Associate Vice President and Vice President for Business Affairs/CFO at Tuskegee University, where he managed assets totaling $589 million, oversaw $175 million in annual revenues, and led one of the most successful financial turnarounds in the university’s history. Under his leadership, cash reserves and net assets more than doubled, long-term debt was significantly reduced, and the university achieved consecutive years of surplus operating budgets.
During his tenure at Tuskegee, Odom also secured $35 million in debt funding for major capital projects, including residence hall renovations and modernization across athletics, information technology, and campus facilities.
Odom’s career spans executive leadership roles at Fort Valley State University, Hiram College, Jarvis Christian College, and Morris Brown College, where he consistently advanced financial stewardship, compliance, and institutional growth. His areas of expertise include multi-year forecasting, grants administration, capital planning, enterprise resource management, and strategic financial modeling.
He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Valdosta State University and a Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. A member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Odom has also served on several boards, including as chair of the finance committee for Bauder College and the Big Bethel AME Church Credit Union.
“Mr. Odom brings a proven record of financial leadership and institutional transformation,” said Dr. Monique Guillory, President of Dillard University. “His strategic insight and deep understanding of higher education finance will strengthen Dillard’s capacity to grow with intention, manage resources wisely, and build a sustainable future for generations of students to come.”
Odom’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in Dillard University’s ongoing commitment to fiscal empowerment, operational efficiency, and strategic growth. His visionary leadership will play a vital role in advancing the university’s mission to cultivate leaders who live ethically, think critically, and serve globally.
