On March 3, the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life welcomed Cong Tony Sun as the new executive administrative dean. As the first executive administrative dean of Tisch College, he is at the forefront of developing the institution’s administrative and financial policies.
“What drew me to this position was the opportunity to build something from the ground up,” Sun said. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to shape the financial and administrative structure of the college.”
Sun will be responsible for overseeing Tisch College’s financial strategy, operational planning and administrative systems.
“My primary role is … really to [ensure] that our infrastructure is not only efficient and transparent but also aligned with the college’s long-term vision,” Sun explained.
Sun held senior roles at Harvard University as director of administration and finance at the Phillips Brooks House Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship and as finance manager for professional education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
“I would say that these previous positions at Harvard really gave me a multidimensional perspective on what mission-driven finance is, what institutional strategy is and how to build partnerships,” Sun said.
Sun said that the variety of roles he held at Harvard gave him experience in aligning financial and strategic efforts with institutional goals of social action and community involvement.
“I supported a wide range of student-led service programs so that really deepened my understanding of how to build administrative systems that support civic engagement,” Sun explained, describing his role at the Phillips Brooks House Center.
Sun’s role at the Harvard Graduate School of Education gave him experience in aligning financial planning with educational goals and creating sustainable revenue-generating programs — skills he plans to bring to Tisch College.
In the past month, Sun was able to build two new platforms that will help the management of daily tasks.
“I look forward to continuing to improve those two systems and then find other ways to enhance this kind of data-driven approach,” Sun said.
Another goal Sun has as executive administrative dean is to expand Tisch College’s pre-college programs as a potential revenue-generating initiative that could help broaden the college’s student base.
“Before students come to the college, we can expand their understanding of what civic engagement means, what civic education involves, and also broaden that student base internationally,” Sun said. “It’s a great way for us to attract international students as well.”
Developing a certificate program within the college, Sun said, could also work as a revenue-generating initiative and allow people to “walk away with knowledge that they can immediately deploy to their relevant fields.”
Another top priority for Sun will be diversifying the college’s funding base.
“I am thinking [about] reaching out more to the corporate foundations and applying for more creative grants,” he said.
Inter-university collaboration and active engagement with the Office of Budget and Planning and the Office of the Provost are crucial, according to Sun, for aligning resource planning and multiyear budgeting with both Tisch College and university-wide priorities. He plans to leverage the university’s expertise in areas like research sponsoring, professional education and external partnerships.
“I think this kind of cross-functional partnership will help ensure that Tisch College will remain financially sound and also fully integrated into the academic and strategic life of the university,” Sun said.
