Benjamin C. Durant III serves as the chief operating officer and senior vice president for Montclair State University Finance and Administration. With over 25 years of experience in higher education and municipal government, he has proven himself as a strategic senior leader committed to innovation and effectiveness.
Durant provides executive leadership to ensure the University’s financial, administrative and operational integrity and provide oversight for the institution’s $600 million-plus operating budget and core operational areas including human resources, information technology, finance, business services and facilities.
Before coming to Montclair in 2023, Durant held vice presidential roles for Guilford College, and two universities within the University of North Carolina system. His 11 years in academia followed 13 years with the City of Asheville, North Carolina, including several years as its Chief Financial Officer.
Durant earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabeth City State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
