Driving Excellence: Adelphi VP of Finance Honored at 2026 Executive Circle Awards

Adelphi University Vice President of Finance Michael Rhattigan is among the honorees named to Long Island Business News' 2026 Executive Circle.

The award celebrates senior executives in the greater Long Island area who consistently demonstrate remarkable leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, company performance, community service and inclusion.

"This award reflects the dedication of the entire team here at Adelphi," said Rhattigan. "Our focus has always been on building a resilient financial foundation for the University. Through long-range planning, including our recent $106 million bond offering, alongside major expansions like our new Manhattan Center, we are ensuring Adelphi is built to thrive for years to come."

Leading Adelphi's financial portfolio since 2022, Rhattigan has seen the University through challenging times in higher education and has kept it on a steady course, showcasing solid growth, stable finances and exceptional financial leadership. According to Rhattigan, "The three primary keys to Adelphi's success: transparency, widespread partnership and thinking 'university first' rather than 'department first.'"

Before joining Adelphi, Rhattigan spent more than a decade leading two eLearning platforms in K-12 education, which he helped expand into approximately 30,000 schools worldwide. He previously directed a consolidation of broadcasting stations, successfully executing equity and debt financing, restructuring and cost management. Rhattigan began his career at Andersen Consulting and worked in Europe, helping clients implement controls, processes and technology to transform their organizations. He later worked in debt securities at JPMorgan. Rhattigan has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Rhattigan joins fellow Executive Circle honorees from organizations including Jovia Financial Credit Union, Stony Brook Medicine, Discover Long Island and Teachers Federal Credit Union. A ceremony celebrating this year's awardees was held at Crest Hollow Country Club on May 21.

Learn more about Rhattigan's winning financial strategy.