WASHINGTON – Today, Howard University announces Annemieke S. Martinez will serve as the interim chief financial officer, effective immediately until the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2021. Martinez will step into the role following the unfortunate passing of CFO Michael Masch earlier this month. A national search to find a permanent replacement will be conducted. Additionally, Frank Bello will serve as the interim treasurer through the end of the fiscal year.

“Please join us in supporting them both during this most important time in our history,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “We will work collaboratively with them in maintaining our current trajectory of financial performance during this period. We are confident they will provide great leadership to the finance team.”

Most recently, Martinez served as the deputy CFO. In close partnership with Masch, she worked to help the University achieve and maintain financial stability.  As CFO, Martinez will report directly to President Frederick and be responsible for all aspects of the financial management of the University, including budget planning and resource allocation; accounting and financial reporting; oversight of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, procurement, cash management, hospital financial management and investment management for Howard’s endowment; and planning for the University’s pension, debt management and capital.

Martinez brings more than 37 years of experience in financial management and oversight at the university level. Previously, she served as the assistant vice president and chief business officer for the Main Campus at Georgetown University. There, she supervised a team of senior management staff to develop and manage a $650 million operating budget as well as the business operations for the development of the maximum academic program for seven schools, 16 administrative operations, two institutes and auxiliary enterprises. 

Bello currently serves as chief investment officer and assistant vice president for Howard University’s $1.2 billion endowment and retirement pension funds. In this role, he is responsible for managing and guiding the investment portfolio, reviewing the performance of investment managers and overseeing the asset allocation construct for the funds with the Board Trustees. He also participates in bringing awareness to the Howard University endowment fund by raising campaign and investment capital to achieve mission critical goals of the University. In this interim role, Bello will report directly to the interim CFO.

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