Idaho Business Review’s annual statewide Financial Excellence Awards recognize individuals for outstanding accomplishments in leadership, mentoring, community service, and advancing company and state standards. Excellence in Finance includes banking, corporate investment, education and professional areas.
Boise State Chief Financial and Operating Officer Alicia Esty is one of the 2024 recipients.
“Boise State University is one of the most efficient and effective universities in the country. We are committed to providing a great educational experience for our students while being fiscally responsible. We have also invested in research, community partnerships, and more. Her depth and breadth of knowledge has helped make Boise State the great place it is today, and we congratulate her on this recognition of her great accomplishments,” said Boise State Chancellor Dr. Marlene Tromp.
Mr. Esty joined Boise State University in 2006 as special assistant to then-Vice President for Finance and Administration Stacey Pearson. She has held a variety of roles in finance and management, including policy analyst, regulatory compliance officer, and tax director. Before coming to Boise State, Estee worked in the tax department at JR Simplot Company. Her impressive academic resume includes a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, a Master of Public Health, and a law degree.
She brings diverse expertise to oversee the university’s $743 million budget and the financial and operational departments of its 37 campuses. As Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Mr. Estee eliminated a $15 million structural deficit while balancing the allocated budget. She has launched over $200 million in major capital projects on campus and guided the university through the COVID-19 pandemic. Esty leveraged her public health expertise to establish testing labs, clinics, contact tracing programs, and clinics to serve the campus and community.
“My most important professional accomplishment was leading Boise State through the pandemic,” Esty told the Idaho Business Review. “Unlike many other institutions, Boise State University resumed in-person classes in the fall of 2020 and continued them safely throughout the pandemic.”
Estee has served on the Board of Directors of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children and the Board of Directors of the Boise School District. She lent her talents to the Gorongosa Pre-K project in Mozambique.
Esty’s colleagues admire her innovative thinking and talent for efficiency, but she never forgets that the well-being of students and the greater community is at the heart of her work.
“Throughout her career, Alicia has demonstrated unparalleled dedication and expertise in financial management, compliance, and operations,” said Lauren Griswold, chief communications and marketing officer at Boise State University. “Her deep understanding of the complexities of public higher education institutions and strategic acumen were critical in guiding Boise State to fiscal health.”
