---
title: "Clemson University Announces CFO Transition"
url: https://www.hereclemson.com/2026/09/22/clemson-university-announces-cfo-transition-2/
date: 2026-09-22T09:05:54-04:00
modified: 2026-09-22T09:05:54-04:00
author: "Sabrina Ball"
categories: ["News"]
site: "HERE Clemson"
attribution: "HERE Clemson"
---

# Clemson University Announces CFO Transition

*Source: [HERE Clemson](https://www.hereclemson.com/2026/09/22/clemson-university-announces-cfo-transition-2/) — September 22, 2026 by Sabrina Ball*

Clemson University’s senior vice president for finance and operations and chief financial officer, Rick Petillo, will transition to Vanderbilt University as vice chancellor and chief financial officer. This new role for Petillo is effective November 1.

Petillo is scheduled to depart Clemson on October 2. He joined Clemson’s Division of Finance and Operations in 2015 as the director of debt and capital financing. In 2020, he was named Clemson’s chief financial officer.

Kelly Collins will assume the role of interim senior vice president for finance and operations and chief financial officer at Clemson University. Collins, a graduate of Clemson, has been with the University since 2003.