WSSU Foundation announces hire of first chief operating officer, Alfredo Aguilar
The Winston-Salem State University Foundation Inc. has named Dr. Alfredo I. Aguilar as its chief operating officer. He is the first person to assume this role with the foundation.
Aguilar, who began his duties on March 1, has worked in finance and operations during the span of his 23-year career for four major organizations. He started at Prudential Financial in New Jersey as an investment operations analyst followed by the United States Air Force at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey as a financial services officer.
Most of his service was at the New Jersey Local Education Agencies as chief of operations and finance officer, where he worked for more than 10 years. In this capacity, Aguilar controlled a budget of more than $110 million and implemented a lean transformation system to improve operational function and streamline district processes.
He also led the district response to COVID, creating a safe working and learning environment for staff and students in addition to converting all operations of the business office to paperless.
Prior to WSSU, Aguilar served as director of business operations for Pearson Education Inc., a for-profit company in Hoboken, N.J. He is credited with saving the company $2.7 million by driving operations that decreased its digital license spend. He also reduced spending on software licensing through a lean transformation system that led to a savings of $3 million and improved product delivery by 40 percent.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the WSSU Foundation team,” said Aguilar. “The Foundation has a long and revered history of serving students and the community. My focus will be on achieving operational excellence in all our processes and services to ensure we can continue delivering impactful programs and resources. I’m excited to work alongside our dedicated staff and board to further the Foundation’s mission.
“We are delighted that Dr. Aguilar accepted this new role with the Foundation,” said Dr. LaTanya Afolayan, vice chancellor for university advancement. “His exceptional leadership and planning expertise coupled with his financial acumen made him our top finalist.”
Aguilar received his Bachelor of Science degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., in 2000. He earned his Master of Business Administration in finance and accounting from Touro University in New York in 2003 and received his doctoral degree in organizational and educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in 2012.
In 2016, he received his Lean Sigma Six, a certification that uses certain tools and methods to improve business performance while eliminating resource waste.
“Welcome to the team, Dr. Alfredo Aguilar,” said Marcus Cox, board chair of the WSSU Foundation Inc. “Your rich background, blending an impressive educational journey from Seton Hall University to earning your MBA and Ph.D. in Organizational and Educational Leadership, with the discipline and financial acumen honed during your service as a financial services officer in the United States Air Force, sets a remarkable foundation for your role as chief operating officer for the Winston-Salem State University Foundation. We are excited to have you in our Ramily.”
About Winston-Salem State University: Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.
