Varun Dhawan

Varun Dhawan is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Varun provides leadership to the offices of Finance, Information Technology & Administrative Operations at APLU.

Varun is responsible for ensuring the integrity of APLU’s financial and budgetary controls and reporting systems, adequate financial flexibility to execute operating and strategic plans and supporting informed executive decision-making across the organization. He serves as a key business partner, liaisons with the Board on financial matters, manages APLU’s investment portfolio and collaborates with cross-functional leaders. In his role he oversees the functions of financial planning, reporting, analysis, budgeting, treasury, risk management, NICRA negotiations, grants reporting, compliance, information technology and administration.

Varun brings a wealth of experience to APLU. He has more than 20 years of experience of non-profit financial management and leadership. Since 2016, he has served as CFO at the Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars, an organization dedicated to providing students with challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credits.

In addition to his work at APLU, Varun also serves as the Vice Chair for Housing Opportunities Community Partners Inc., component entity of Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County which provides effective programming to improve the lives of low-income families.

Varun is a Certified Public Accountant and is actively licensed in Maryland and Delaware. He earned his Undergraduate Degree in Commerce from Panjab University, India.