Paul Rhynard has been named vice president for financial administration at Walla Walla University.
Rhynard brings extensive experience in finance, organizational strategy, and business leadership, along with a longstanding connection to WWU as an alumnus, former trustee, professor, and administrator.
“Paul knows this institution well and brings the financial and strategic experience needed to help lead WWU into the future,” says Alex Bryan, WWU president.
Before joining WWU as an employee, Rhynard spent 14 total years as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. At WWU, he has served as associate professor of management and strategy and director of the Master of Business Administration program.
Rhynard previously served as chief strategy officer at Russell Investments, a global investment firm managing more than $300 billion in assets. In that role, he developed enterprise strategy, represented the company in merger and acquisition discussions, led its transformation office, oversaw corporate communications, and worked with the company’s internal innovation lab.
He also served as executive vice president of Joshua Green Corporation, where he helped manage the family office’s private investment portfolio, and worked for McKinsey & Co., advising investment organizations on strategy and growth. More recently, he served as CEO of Wilkinson Baking Company, a food robotics company developing automated bread-baking technology.
Rhynard says his experience in other industries, combined with his understanding of WWU, has prepared him to help the university respond to significant changes facing higher education.
“The market is changing rapidly, which is both daunting and exciting,” Rhynard says. “Young adults deserve to experience what we offer at WWU. It is an honor to be part of the team that ensures students attend WWU long into the future.”
As vice president for financial administration, Rhynard’s central priority will be strengthening the university’s long-term financial stability. He plans to work across university departments to support revenue growth, expand affordable pathways for students, and ensure expenses remain aligned with revenue.
Simplifying university processes will also be an important part of that work.
“We have to make processes easier, both for students and our staff,” Rhynard says. “This makes us more efficient and easier to work with as an institution.”
Rhynard holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from WWU and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. He is also a CFA charterholder.
He says responsible financial leadership is essential to advancing WWU’s mission and keeping a Christian university education accessible.
“We have to have a sustainable, thriving organization to ensure students are able to attend this institution,” Rhynard says. “It is also my role to ensure we allocate resources to elements of our institution that help our mission thrive.”
Posted September 30, 2026
