Verenice Ciciliano, MBA
Verenice Ciciliano, is a seasoned financial and administrative leader with over a decade of progressive experience in higher education. She currently serves as Assistant Director of Finance and Administration at the University of Maryland Extended Studies, where she oversees the financial and operational aspects of a diverse portfolio of educational programs. Her responsibilities include budget administration, financial planning, compliance, and the management of complex entrepreneurial initiatives, reflecting her commitment to institutional effectiveness and fiscal stewardship. Verenice’s professional journey is inspired by her experience as a first-generation Latina college graduate and her desire to inspire others from similar backgrounds to pursue higher education and professional growth. Throughout her career, Verenice has been recognized for her integrity, reliability, and collaborative approach. As an independent woman, she balances motherhood and a demanding professional role, and strives to model what is possible: you can be the first in your family to graduate, you can excel in your career, you can raise a family, and still keep growing. She hopes that her journey encourages others to push beyond fear, embrace education, and step into the fullness of who they were created to be.
Her leadership philosophy emphasizes continuous learning, professional excellence, and mentoring others to cultivate high-performing teams and foster innovation in Higher Education Financial Management. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Verenice is pursuing a Master of Science in Homeland Security and Crisis Management Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and holds an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Fluent in Spanish, she leverages her diverse skills and experiences to advance operational efficiency, drive strategic outcomes, and inspire colleagues and students alike to embrace education, resilience, and lifelong learning.
• University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law - MS
• University of Maryland Global Campus - MBA
• Trinity Washington University - BBA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discipline, continuous growth, and a commitment to serving others. I’m very intentional about showing up with consistency, doing things the right way, taking ownership, and holding myself to high standards. I also believe in constant learning, which is why I continue pursuing advanced degrees and professional development to stay sharp and adaptable.
Most importantly, my success comes from resilience and purpose. I come from a background where hard work was not optional, and that shaped my drive to create opportunities not just for myself, but for the people I lead and support. I measure success by the positive impact I make, whether that’s improving processes, developing my team, or helping an organization operate with more clarity and accountability. Those principles guide everything I do.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Claim your voice and your influence at the table. Someone once told me, “Own your story because it’s powerful.” Your story carries resilience, lived experience, and purpose, and when you embrace it fully, it becomes a source of strength. It becomes the fuel that allows you to inspire people, shape culture, and elevate teams, operations, and entire institutions.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to prioritize pursuing education, even in the face of financial constraints. There are numerous funding opportunities available, and investing in your education can open more doors than almost any other path. While entrepreneurship also has its merits, building a strong educational foundation provides invaluable knowledge, skills, and confidence. I encourage young women to stay committed to learning, seek out resources and mentorship, and recognize that education can empower them to achieve their professional goals.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in higher education administration right now is the transition to new financial systems and the need to integrate processes across campus in a more unified way. As systems evolve, we’re not just updating technology; we’re addressing long-standing knowledge gaps between departments, programs, and central offices.
Different units often operate with their own workflows, assumptions, and levels of understanding about how financial, HR, and operational processes connect. These inconsistencies create delays, errors, and miscommunication, especially when systems require precise, coordinated inputs to function correctly. But I see this as a major opportunity. System changes allow us to re-evaluate processes, increase transparency, standardize training, and build campus-wide alignment. By filling knowledge gaps, improving communication, and strengthening cross-unit collaboration, we can create workflows that are more accurate, efficient, and responsive to the needs of students, faculty, and staff. For me, the real opportunity lies in using this moment of change to strengthen our overall operational culture, moving from siloed practices to a more cohesive, accountable, campus-wide approach to financial and administrative processes.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe in always doing the right thing, so integrity guides every decision I make, along with accountability, owning my actions and outcomes, and making an impact. I use my work in higher education as a platform to promote access, opportunity, and representation, especially for other Latinas, youth, and women who don’t often see themselves reflected in leadership. And growth, I continuously pursue knowledge through advanced degrees, hands-on experience, and discipline. I lead with purpose and inspire others through both my work and my personal journey.