New Full-Time Staff 2026
Sheila Thimba
Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration
Sheila Thimba, Kingsborough Community College’s new senior vice president for finance and administration, brings decades of experience in higher education leadership and a focus on serving students through operational excellence and strong planning processes.
Born and raised in Kenya, Thimba came to the United States as an international student. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and economics from the College of Saint Elizabeth in New Jersey and later completed graduate studies in political economy at the New School for Social Research.
Thimba said she thought she would become an “economics policy wonk” but found her true calling while in graduate school: educational administration. She has since held senior leadership positions at Harvard College at Harvard University, the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. In these roles, she oversaw finance, operations, human resources, facilities, and technology, often guiding institutions through complex fiscal and organizational challenges.
Her connection to Kingsborough dates back decades. “In the 1990s, I worked at the NYC Board of Education in the Office of Research, Assessment, and Evaluation, conducting quantitative analysis on standardized tests and qualitative assessments in parental involvement in schools, which brought me to Brighton Beach and surrounding areas frequently,” she said. “I remember loving the beaches and neighborhoods, which were changing quite a bit at the time.”
She later partnered with Kingsborough while working at the 1199 Training and Upgrading Fund to help allied health workers pursue new careers and credentials. “KCC, then as now, had a strong focus on student support and success,” she recalled. “I was reminded of how inspiring that work was when I saw the position announcement and again when I met KCC staff and faculty during the search process.”
In her new role, Thimba will oversee the college’s administrative and financial operations and serve on the president’s cabinet, where she’ll play a key role in advancing Kingsborough’s strategic plan and supporting President Suri Duitch’s priorities.
Thimba said she has already begun a close review of the College’s finances and administrative operations. “Over the years, being able to regularly balance budgets and improve administrative operations, as boring as that sounds, have come to feel like worthy achievements,” she said. “Ensuring that academic and student life goals for our students can continue to be met at the level we aspire to is very motivating.”
Outside of work, Thimba enjoys theater, live music and long walks on the beach, “even on cold days,” she added. She recently came across a term she feels best describes her personality: “otrovert.” “I like being around people, and I like being by myself,” she said.
“I'm looking forward to working with the amazing team in my area to find new and innovative solutions to the College’s challenges.”