Richard J. Sobieray

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Rich Sobieray provides executive leadership for Temple University’s financial strategy, operations and administrative services. Working closely with the president and senior leadership team, he advances the university’s long-term financial sustainability, operational excellence and strategic priorities in support of student success, research and community impact.

As COO, he oversees a broad operational portfolio that includes Finance, Human Resources, Public Safety, Design and Construction, Facilities Management, Real Estate, Sustainability, Environmental Health and Radiation Safety, Business Affairs and Parking Services. He is responsible for strengthening institutional effectiveness, modernizing administrative operations, advancing strategic capital investments, and ensuring the university's resources are aligned to support Temple's mission and long-term success.

Richard joined Temple from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, known as KAUST, where he served as vice president and chief financial officer. He managed more than $60 billion in assets and a $1.7 billion operating budget, with executive oversight of finance, procurement, information technology and strategic resource allocation in support of the university’s Vision 2030 strategic plan. Prior to KAUST, Rich served as senior vice president for financial strategy and administrative services and chief financial officer at the University of South Florida. He also held senior leadership positions with USF Health, the Morsani College of Medicine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

In 2021, Richard was named CFO of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The award recognized his financial leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development of a comprehensive cash-management strategy that allowed USF Health to maintain critical clinical operations and continue serving the Tampa Bay community.

Rich earned a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Science in Education from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has completed executive education programs at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and Columbia Business School.