Ellen Herbst is a transformative leader with a distinguished career spanning higher education, government, and the private sector. With extensive expertise in finance, strategic planning, and enterprise risk management, she has successfully led large-scale initiatives that drive operational excellence, financial sustainability, and institutional growth.

Ellen has a proven track record of guiding organizations through complex financial landscapes, implementing innovative solutions, and fostering cross-sector collaborations to achieve long-term impact.

As the Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance at the University System of Maryland (USM), Ellen Herbst oversees the financial and operational strategy for a $7.9 billion annual budget, $250 million in capital expenditures, and endowment fund management across 12 universities and three regional centers. She provides strategic counsel to the Chancellor, Board of Regents, and university presidents, driving initiatives in enterprise risk management, shared services, and fiscal responsibility.