Winifred Foster, who joined the Office of the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Administration and Finance as senior director of project management in 2022, has been named chief of staff to EVP Elizabeth Milavec effective December 1, 2022. Milavec is the first person to hold the role of EVP, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer at the University. The new position reflects the central importance of having cohesive financial and administrative operations.
As chief of staff, Foster serves as a strategic advisor and aid to the EVP, supporting policy development, strategic projects and planning for the Administration and Finance organization as a member of the leadership team. Additional responsibilities include managing operations for the Office of the EVP, Board of Trustee communications, and acting as a liaison to internal and external groups dealing with a wide range of initiatives and issues.
Foster joined the University in 2013 at Highland Hospital and transitioned to University of Rochester Medical Center in 2014 as a project manager. She went on to serve as a LEAN business consultant and associate director of URMC’s Operations Excellence team, managing a variety of complex improvement initiatives that spanned the healthcare enterprise. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and an executive MBA from the University of Rochester Simon Business School.