Vijay Menta
Vice President & CIO, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Vijay is an experienced IT executive and higher education leader with more than 28 years of experience. He serves as Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he leads digital learning, application development and integration, cloud strategy, self-service, and automation, Academic and Research Computing, Academic Technologies, and User Success. Vijay is passionate about building strong partnerships, driving organizational change, and delivering innovative technology solutions that advance institutional goals. He was recognized as a finalist for the Boston CIO ORBIE Awards in 2024 and 2026 and received the 2026 ORBIE Award in the Corporate category. Vijay also serves on the NERCOMP Board of Trustees and is an active member of its Professional Development and Community Relations Committee.

 

Jill Desmarais
Director of IT Finance & Portfolio Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Jill Desmarais is Director of IT Finance and Portfolio Management at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she leads a team responsible for the IT Division’s financial operations, portfolio governance, and project delivery. Since joining WPI in 2018, she has also served as project manager for major technology initiatives, including Workday Student, Zoom Phone, HaloITSM, and the retirement of the Banner ERP system. Jill partners with university leaders and stakeholders to align investments, resources, and priorities; strengthen governance; improve operational efficiency; and deliver successful organizational change. She brings experience in global operations, business process management, technology strategy, and program leadership from previous roles in the high-tech industry and beyond.

 

Alison George -
Associate Director of IT Budget & Operations, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Alison is Associate Director of IT Budget and Operations at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She leads strategic financial planning and operational oversight for the IT organization, aligning budget processes with institutional priorities. Known for her collaborative leadership style and attention to detail, Alison partners across the University to improve financial transparency, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement in support of higher education technology.

 

Michael S. Hora
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

A seasoned financial and business operations leader with extensive experience in higher education and industry, he oversees the university’s financial, operational, facilities, public safety, and information technology functions. Prior to joining WPI in 2021, Horan served as Vice President for Finance, CFO, and Treasurer at Illinois Institute of Technology, and previously held CFO roles at Capital University and Oglethorpe University. Before transitioning to higher education, he held senior finance and operations leadership positions at Cox Communications. A Certified Public Accountant, Horan earned a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Georgia, an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and a BA in Business from Fort Lewis College. He is recognized for his data-driven, strategic approach to resource management and institutional growth.

 

Olga Klochkova 
Associate Vice President of Finance & Operations, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Olga is a critical thought partner on both strategic and tactical financial decision-making to the EVP/CFO. Olga is overseeing accounting, audit, endowment and debt management, financial services, procurement-to-payables, student, and grant accounting, as well as directing effective budget and planning processes in alignment with the strategic priorities of the WPI. As part of her role, she is communicating financial information and insights to the division leaders, the senior leadership, and Board of Trustees through high-quality financial analyses and systems. Ms. Klochkova joined WPI in 2019, bringing a broad range of higher education and corporate accounting experience with her. Prior to WPI, Olga served as the Controller and Clinic Business Administrator at the University of Western States. Olga holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and a Bachelor of Science in leadership and management from Portland State University, CPA license, and grant management certification.

 

Lauren Martunas 
Director of Financial Planning & Budgeting, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Lauren provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and planning processes, with a focus on aligning financial resources with institutional priorities. She partners with academic and administrative leaders to provide financial analysis, insights, and decision support, while supporting effective management of operating budgets and discretionary funds. As part of her role, Lauren leads efforts to streamline and strengthen cross-divisional financial processes, develop training and documentation, and promote consistent and effective financial practices across the University. She works closely with departments and leadership to improve financial understanding, enhance reporting and forecasting, and support informed decision-making.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts and reports directly to Olga Klochkova, Associate Vice President of Finance & Operations