October 2015

SAU appoints new Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Willie T Closs Jr, a certified public accountant with a long and successful career in finance, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business and Finance at Saint Augustine’s University.

“Saint Augustine’s University is excited to welcome Mr. Closs who has the financial and corporate leadership to help Saint Augustine’s University move in the right direction towards financial stability,” President Everett B. Ward said in announcing the hire. “His appointment underscores our commitment to take the necessary steps to improve the financial health of this institution.”

Mr. Closs has more than 30 years’ experience; he is a corporate and institutional financial consultant who has held various roles of increasing responsibility at North Carolina Mutual life insurance in Durham, NC including the chief financial officer and executive vice president.

Mr. Closs is also a member of the board of director and chairman for the audit committee at Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and a member of the board of directors for North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and M&F Bancorp. Since 1992, Mr. Closs has been a member of Financial Executives Institute. Mr. Closs earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Morehouse College. He then furthered his education by earning an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

— Brittany Peay