F. Robert Huth, vice president for business and chief financial officer at Stetson University, received national recognition as the 2014 Distinguished Business Officer by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) at the July annual meeting held in Seattle, Wash.

Huth, left, is pictured with Arch Asawa, vice president for finance and administration and CFO at Soka University of America. Asawa served as chair of this year’s awards committee. (Rodney Choice/Choice Photography)

Huth and Edward DesPlas, executive vice chancellor for business affairs at Dallas County Community College District, were presented NACUBO’s highest award for outstanding achievement in the field of business and financial management in higher education.

Huth came to Stetson in July 2011, from Middlebury College in Vermont. With 35 years of higher education finance experience, including 22 years as CFO, prior to Middlebury College, he served at Moravian College and Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Huth has also served as a commissioner of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, a board member of NACUBO, and president of the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers.

At Stetson Huth oversees the university’s budget and financial functions including technology, human resources, investments and facilities. As CFO, he has partnered with Elizabeth Paul, provost and vice president for academic affairs, to provide adequate resources for the academic area of the university, including the College of Law in Gulfport and Tampa Bay.

In their letter of recommendation to the nomination committee, signed by both Stetson President Wendy B. Libby and Provost Beth Paul, they listed several descriptors of Bob Huth as reasons why he should receive this top NACUBO award. They included: “a system thinker for One Stetson; a builder, not a maintainer; a calculated risk taker; a trusted communicator and teacher; one who is committed to strategy above all and service to the profession, with an endearing sense of humor.”

“Bob Huth is both distinguished AND outstanding, clearly at the top of his game after a professional lifetime of commitment to our industry and her institutions,” said Libby and Paul. “We are so fortunate to have him with us as one of the architects of the new Stetson.”

“I am surprised and pleased to be honored with this award,” said Huth. “I am grateful to have been surrounded by exceptional colleagues, mentors and faculty friends who are not only passionate about the education of our future generations but also the strength of our institutions.”

“We recognize and congratulate these deserving individuals and institutions for their commitment to high standards in their fields and developing creative finance and management strategies that strengthen their institutions,” said NACUBO president and CEO John Walda, who handed out the awards at the special event held at the Washington State Convention Center.

Founded in 1962, NACUBO is a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 2,100 colleges and universities across the country. NACUBO’s mission is to promote sound management and financial practices at colleges and universities.