Lexie Bonitatibus

Lexie Bonitatibus is the Assistant Vice President for Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Operating Officer for SUNY Empire State College. For over 25 years, she has partnered with multiple startups, small businesses, colleges, global organizations, and large enterprises to face challenges in a changing market landscape, and to turn around financials, launch data analytics, and lead operational change. She holds a B.A. in government and human geography from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in international economics and finance from the Brandeis International Business School. A lifelong learner, she is currently pursuing her Ed.D., in educational leadership and change, as part of SUNY Empire’s inaugural class in the college’s new doctorate program. Her expertise is in data analytics and data driven decisions.  Her doctoral research is in “How Iterations of Data Can Save the Higher Education Industry – Introduction of an Incubator Culture into the Higher Education Industry and Its Lasting impact on Enrollment, Student Success, and Operational Excellence.”

Bonitatibus skated as a cast member in the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, which won seven Emmy awards, and was seen live by more than 1 billion people. Though she never made the Olympic team, she competed nationally as an athlete in three sports – speedskating, cycling and rowing. Bonitatibus has earned awards for her accomplishments, including three for integrity:

  • The Order of Excellence Award, for her work during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, which was presented by then chief executive of the Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee, Mitt Romney.
  • The 1990 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Jack Kelly Fair Play Award in Sports, which is awarded annually to an athlete, team, coach, or official in recognition of an outstanding act of fair play and sportsmanship displayed during the past year (Four-time Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a past recipient.).
  • The Comité International Pour le Fair Play (International Fair Play Committee) Diploma for Action award, also in 1990, for her sportsmanship in a national cycling competition.