When private colleges and universities in California need to finance major projects—from new residence halls to academic buildings—University of the Pacific’s chief financial officer will now have a role in helping them access lower-cost financing.

James Walsh has been appointed to the California Educational Facilities Authority, a five-member board that operates through the Office of the State Treasurer. The board reviews and approves tax-exempt bonds that can help private, non-profit universities reduce their borrowing costs. 

“James brings decades of leadership in higher education finance, operations, risk management and strategic planning,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma. “His experience across leading institutions, combined with his extensive credentials will be a tremendous asset to the California Educational Facilities Authority as it supports California’s colleges and universities.” 

Pacific has benefited from the financing for its own projects, including Southwest Hall, a nearly 400-bed residential building that opened to students this fall. Pacific obtained a conduit bond through the California Education Facilities Authority to finance the newly constructed building.

“I have a first-hand understanding of how this funding can help schools and ultimately make a big difference in the everyday lives of students,” Walsh said. “There are some universities in the state that might not know these opportunities are out there, and I am excited to get the word out and help more institutions utilize the resources to improve the student experience.”

Walsh joined Pacific in 2022 and serves as the university’s chief financial officer and executive vice president for finance and operations. Before joining Pacific, he was executive director and university controller at Tufts University and associate vice president for finance and controller at Brandeis University. He also held several finance and accounting positions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The appointment also gives Walsh an opportunity to address broader financial challenges facing colleges and universities, including changes to graduate student borrowing.

One of his priorities is identifying options for students affected by the recent elimination of Grad PLUS loans for new borrowers. Students who are no longer eligible for the federal program will need to consider alternative ways to finance graduate and professional education, including private loans.

For Walsh, the board appointment provides a way to put his experience to work beyond Pacific.

“It’s an opportunity to serve higher education more broadly than what I’m doing now,” he said. “I want to do more for higher education to help other universities and their students.”

Walsh will serve on the board through April 2027.