The University of Delaware (UD) has appointed Ellen Herbst as its new executive vice president for finance and administration, effective July 1, 2026. Herbst, a Delaware native and University of Delaware alumna, returns to her alma mater after a career spanning more than four decades in higher education, government, and the private sector.
In the role, Herbst will oversee several key administrative functions across the university, including budget and finance, human resources, information technologies, facilities and campus planning, emergency management, investment operations, and public safety.
“With more than 40 years of experience in higher education, government and the corporate sector, Ellen returns to her alma mater with an outstanding record of leadership and achievement that will serve her well in this role at UD,” said University President Laura Carlson.
Herbst joins UD from the University System of Maryland, where she has served as senior vice chancellor for administration and finance since 2017. In that position, she worked closely with the system’s 12 universities and three regional centers, helping oversee an institution serving more than 176,000 students and operating with an annual budget exceeding $7.9 billion.
Her responsibilities included strategic planning, budget management, capital development, information technology, enrollment planning, procurement, human resources, and financial reporting. During her tenure, she led the implementation of the University System’s first enterprise risk management and crisis management framework and introduced performance metrics to support strategic decision-making across the institution.
“As a proud Blue Hen, I’ve always held the University of Delaware in the highest regard because of its distinguished faculty, dedicated staff members and amazing students,” Herbst said. “I’m honored to have this new opportunity to serve the University that I love.”
Before joining the University System of Maryland, Herbst served as chief financial officer and assistant secretary for administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She also held executive leadership positions with several private-sector organizations, including Spectra Systems Corp., Virtual Compliance Inc., Giesecke & Devrient America Inc., and DuPont.
Herbst holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting from the University of Delaware.
The appointment comes as the University of Delaware continues to expand its research and academic profile. The public research university enrolls more than 24,000 students and is recognized for strengths in engineering, business, health sciences, and public policy. In the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, 24 UD graduate programs were ranked among the nation’s best, including 13 programs in the top 50.
As executive vice president, Herbst will play a key role in supporting the university’s long-term financial sustainability, campus development initiatives, and strategic growth objectives.
