Originally from Philadelphia, Finley is a 1964 graduate of Penn State and started his Penn State career in Housing and Food Services. He has a degree in accounting but has never pursued the field professionally. In 1983 he returned to University Park as administrative director of Business Services, then became assistant to the senior associate vice president for Finance and Business, a position he has held for 11 years until his recent promotion. Finley says it's his work variety that has kept him from retiring. I have things fall on my desk every day that are diverse and exciting and that's what I like about this job.
Every day is different.
The quality and breadth of the University's business, especially at the satellite campuses and colleges, never ceases to impress me. Finley was the recipient of the University's Award for Administrative Excellence in 1996 and throughout his career has been involved in many projects such as the University Park Airport expansion, growth of The Behrend College, and numerous Town and Gown issues. He represents the University on most transportation issues and serves on the Centre County Airport Authority, Council of Governments Transportation Committees, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Pennsylvania Aviation Council, Centre Region Parks and Recreation, and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee, just to name a few. Finley is an avid outdoors man who is known for his solo camping trips. He also bicycles every weekend, cross country skis, and not surprisingly, is a pilot.