Newman University welcomes new Vice President for Finance and Administration Tony Beata.
Beata comes to Newman from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, where he was the vice president for finance, chief financial officer.
He received his Bachelor of Science in accountancy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned a state CPA license in 1994. He was a partner and consultant at Beata & Beata, LLP, in Hillsdale, Illinois, for 14 years before moving into the nonprofit sector.
Beata begins his duties part-time on April 13, moving to a full-time role on May 1. He said Newman topped his wish list in many ways.
“When I decided to move on from Hastings College, I was very interested in finding a position that aligned closely with my personal mission and vocation,” explained Beata.
“Although I enjoyed working at Hastings and supported their mission as a school, it was not the same experience as I had when working at Ave Maria University or for the short time I worked as a Catholic parish administrator. Newman University’s mission, its size and its Midwest location were all high on my wish list.”
He said even though his interactions have been happening from a distance, he already feels at home, already meeting many members of the Newman community, albeit virtually. He said he looks forward to working with what he can already tell is a motivated and mission-driven team.
Interim President Teresa Hall Bartels was excited to announce the hiring of Beata and is looking forward to welcoming him to the Newman family.
“Tony will provide vast knowledge from his more than 30-year professional career in a variety of financial roles in higher education, parish and public accounting settings.”
Beata will be starting his Newman career by working remotely, as the majority of Newman staff and faculty are doing the same because of the national pandemic of the novel coronavirus but said he knows everything will come together and is excited to physically be on campus when it is safe to do so.
“I have been thinking a lot about the challenges of starting a new position while not being able to come to the office and engage my co-workers in the traditional way,” he said. “It is going to require a lot more discipline on my part to make myself available and to stay connected. It may also delay the ability to connect on a personal level with the school and the great people who do all the hard work. In the end, though, I think this will all work out — it is just another thing we are all adapting to.”
