Michael Courtney is a true Hawkeye at heart, so when the chance to work for his alma mater came up, he knew he had to seize it.

With a lifelong passion for math and numbers, Courtney earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the UI Tippie College of Business in 2007 and later completed his MBA with a focus on leadership in 2020.

Courtney started his career as a real estate loan officer before spending 16 years at Transamerica in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he served as an investment analyst, senior tax accountant, and lead internal auditor. He later worked as a finance manager at UFG Insurance before transitioning to his current role as director of finance and budget operations at the UI College of Pharmacy. He officially began the position in October 2024.

During the past few months, Courtney has enjoyed being back on campus and gaining a deeper understanding of the operations. His role includes analyzing the college’s financials, tracking the flow of funds, and dedicating significant time to future planning.

Courtney's main goal is to maintain the financial health of the UI College of Pharmacy while helping to position it for long-term success.

During the interview process, Courtney was asked about his finance strategy for the college. His answer? Finance isn’t separate—it’s driven by the college’s goals. “My job is to try to make it work with our finances so we can accomplish those things, as well as provide feedback if there are things at risk,” he said. 

Everything Courtney works toward revolves around one key question: “How do we make the things the dean and faculty want to do feasible from a financial perspective?” In this role, he sees himself as a trusted advisor to the dean.

Outside of work, Courtney enjoys spending time with his new wife, attending concerts and baseball games, golfing, and exploring the outdoors with their two pups.