NACUBO had announced Johnston's coming retirement days before her death

Susan Whealler Johnston, CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, died Aug. 12 "after a brief, courageous fight with cancer," the association announced. NACUBO had issued a press release just four days earlier saying that Johnston was retiring to focus on her health.

A longtime leader in higher education, Johnston joined NACUBO in 2018 as its first female CEO.

"Leading with grace and gratitude, Johnston transformed the association in many ways," the group said in a statement. "Her compassionate leadership, which emphasized student success and inclusion for all, will leave a lasting impact on NACUBO and the business officer profession."

Johnston is credited with increasing membership and grant funding, creating an emerging leaders professional development program and launching a consulting firm that now has 30 consultants and has worked for 50 clients.

"Susan brought a fresh perspective and an urgency toward action," said Nicole Trufant, vice president and chief financial officer at Colby College and chair of the NACUBO Board of Directors. "I am especially proud of Susan's leadership during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Before leading NACUBO, Johnston was executive vice president and COO of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, where she had worked since 2000. Previously, she spent 18 years as a professor of English and dean of academic development at Rockford University in Illinois.

At the time of her death, Johnston was also chair of the Board of Trustees at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., where she had earned a bachelor's degree in English literature. She also had a Ph.D. in English literature from Purdue University.

Johnston's husband Joe died of cancer in 2020.

NACUBO said it is collecting notes on Johnston's impact for a tribute on its website. Those wishing to have a message included can email rememberingsusan@nacubo.org.

Information about a service being planned by her family will be announced at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Conservation Council in Staunton, Va.