Driving Excellence: Adelphi VP of Finance Honored at 2026 Executive Circle Awards
Garden City, NY (05/27/2026) — Adelphi University Vice President of Finance Michael Rhattigan is among the honorees named to Long Island Business News' 2026 Executive Circle. The award celebrates senior executives in the greater Long Island area who consistently demonstrate remarkable leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, company performance, community service and inclusion.
"This award reflects the dedication of the entire team here at Adelphi," said Rhattigan. "Our focus has always been on building a resilient financial foundation for the university. Through long-range planning, including our recent $106 million bond offering, alongside major expansions like our new Manhattan Center, we are ensuring Adelphi is built to thrive for years to come."
Leading Adelphi's financial portfolio since 2022, Rhattigan has seen the University through challenging times in higher education and has kept it on a steady course, showcasing solid growth, stable finances and exceptional financial leadership. According to Rhattigan, "the three primary keys to Adelphi's success: transparency, widespread partnership, and thinking "university first," rather than "department first."
Prior to joining Adelphi, Rhattigan spent more than a decade leading two eLearning platforms in K-12 education that he helped expand into approximately 30,000 schools worldwide. He previously directed a consolidation of broadcasting stations, successfully executing equity and debt financing, restructuring and cost management. Rhattigan began his career at Andersen Consulting and worked in Europe, helping clients implement controls, processes and technology to transform their organizations. He later worked in debt securities at JPMorgan. Rhattigan has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Rhattigan joins fellow Executive Circle honorees from organizations including Jovia Financial Credit Union, Stony Brook Medicine, Discover Long Island and Teachers Federal Credit Union, among others. A special ceremony celebrating this year's awardees was held at Crest Hollow Country Club on May 21.
Learn more about Rhattigan's winning financial strategy.
About Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning
Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning, and innovative ways to support academic and career success. U.S. News & World Report named Adelphi a 2026 Best National University, Best College for Veterans, and Top Performer in Social Mobility. In addition, Forbes has ranked Adelphi the top private university on Long Island for three past three years.
Adelphi serves more than 7,300 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York-just 23 miles from New York City's cultural and internship opportunities-and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, as well as online.
More than 123,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, engaged citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.
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Adelphi University Vice President of Finance Michael Rhattigan is among the honorees named to Long Island Business News’ 2026 Executive Circle.