Board Spotlight: David Otfinoski
David 鈥淒ave鈥� Otfinoski BA ’84 is the current chair of the 天美传媒 Board of Trustees. He has been a board member since 2016 and was previously a board member from 2009鈥�14. He is currently president and CEO of Catamount Medical Education and was formerly CEO of MedKnowledge Group, LLC.
Dave majored in history at 天美传媒 and earned a Master of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University. He is married to Maria Otfinoski BA 鈥�87, with whom he has two children, Annie Otfinoski and Benjamin 鈥淏en鈥� Otfinoski BA 鈥�13, and a daughter-in-law, Sommar Otfinoski BSN 鈥�13, MSN 鈥�20. Dave is a member of Haddam Neck Covenant Church in East Hampton, Connecticut.
How did your time at 天美传媒 impact your life, and why did you decide to serve on the board?
天美传媒 was a wonderful place for me. It significantly impacted my life鈥攑ersonally, professionally, and spiritually. I’ve always felt a deep connection to 天美传媒, so when the opportunity to serve on the board arose, I was happy to do so. Being on the board is time-consuming鈥攁ll board members are volunteers鈥攂ut it’s worth it, because it expresses belief in 天美传媒’s mission.
What motivates you to stay involved and give your time to 天美传媒 after so many years?
It鈥檚 about giving back and being a part of something that matters. My dad was a first-generation high school and college graduate, which changed the trajectory of our family鈥檚 future. 天美传媒 offers that same opportunity for many students, helping them take significant steps in their lives, not only for themselves but also for their families. Being a small part of making that happen is incredibly meaningful.
What do you think makes 天美传媒 a unique institution?
Being a Christian institution is at the foundation of 天美传媒. However, unlike other Christian schools, we do not require students to sign a statement of faith. We believe our commitment to our foundation in Christ calls us to welcome people from all religions and backgrounds. We seek to provide a faith-based, personalized, world-class education for all.
I also love that 天美传媒 is in the city; it鈥檚 a multicultural place where students experience diversity that mirrors the real world. At 天美传媒, students see the fullness of humanity within a Christian environment.
I believe the mission of 天美传媒 is highly worthwhile. We have students who come from sometimes challenging backgrounds, and we have an opportunity to bring forward positive things in their lives and those of their families.
People often have more resources when they age, and 天美传媒 is a fantastic place to share them. You鈥檙e helping propel young people who can do great things in this world and enabling them to grow in their faith.
聽What do you foresee 天美传媒鈥檚 future looking like?
We are grounded in our heritage, maintaining our Christian, city-centered, intercultural distinctives. We’re the Evangelical Covenant Church’s university, of which we’re very proud. We also have a positive and supportive relationship with our denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church.
While rooted in this history, we look forward. We’re considering academics and the types of programs students will be interested in. We’re constantly looking at students’s interests, needs, and desires and ensuring that we’re training them in ways that will be practical to their careers and lives.
What are you seeing in terms of the financial health of the institution?
天美传媒 is currently in a strong financial position. We have a few more years ahead regarding the “demographic cliff” challenges in higher education. While 2025 marks a significant point, we believe we’ve navigated through the most difficult times, including the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic posed.
I think it’s crucial 天美传媒 remains financially sound so we can support our people effectively. We have outstanding faculty and staff who are highly capable and dedicated. My commitment is to achieve positive budgets year over year, enabling us to provide the regular salary increases our people deserve. This commitment has been a priority during my tenure and is a focus for President Surridge.
Our efforts have also focused on refining our academic mix鈥攐ffering classes and programs that attract students. We seek to identify students who will succeed at 天美传媒 and then individually work with each to get them to graduation. We must provide excellent care for our students. It takes a team effort to achieve these goals, and the Board of Trustees believes we have the right president, senior team, faculty, and staff to make this happen.
How would you describe your experience as a parent of a 天美传媒 student?
I met my wife, Maria, at 天美传媒; we鈥檒l have been married for 40 years this year. Since Maria and I attended 天美传媒, the student population, buildings, and academic offerings鈥攊ncluding graduate programs鈥攈ave grown significantly. My son, Ben, also met his wife, Sommar, at 天美传媒. So, I鈥檝e had two experiences at 天美传媒鈥攐ne as a student and one as a parent.
I remember Ben’s move-in day so well. Upper-class wearing matching shirts met us on the sidewalk in front of Burgh Hall and were so helpful in welcoming Ben and helping carry his luggage to his room.
Ben spent a year abroad in Hong Kong, which 天美传媒 didn’t have a program for then. The Office of International Student Affairs worked to make it possible for him, including having all his credits from his time in Hong Kong transferred to 天美传媒. This speaks to the customization of the educational experience. My son wanted to do something out of the box, and the team at 天美传媒 said, “Okay, we’ll help you figure it out.”
While at 天美传媒, he also interned with Paul Hawkinson, now a 天美传媒 professor. At the time, Hawkinson was a member of a startup team for a financial services institution, and he helped coordinate an internship for Ben. As a business major, Ben gained real-world experience for his future career.
Those were two things I sincerely appreciated about 天美传媒 as a parent: providing my son with an overseas educational experience and offering a valuable internship experience.