INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Martin University is pleased to announce the hiring of ZeNai Brooks as Chief Financial Officer/Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration. Her responsibilities include managing all financial functions of the University, including tracking tuition and other income, overseeing expenses, operations and logistics, controlling/accounting, board and regulatory reporting, and budgeting/financial planning with the President and Board of Trustees. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Warren Central High School and University of Louisville graduate.
“ZeNai is a welcoming addition to our executive team,” said Dr. Sean L. Huddleston, President of Martin University. “She is highly qualified in finance and management and also fits perfectly into the Martin culture as someone very intentional about combining her professional career with her passion for community advocacy.”
"I'm thrilled and privileged to collaborate with Dr. Huddleston, the Trustees, and my fellow colleagues at Martin University," expressed Brooks. "I firmly believe that through community engagement, the use of our unique talents, and the empowerment of others, we have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. This ethos resonates deeply with everyone associated with Martin University, and it's a fundamental aspect of the educational experience it offers."
For the past 13 years, Brooks led the finance and operations functions for a Fortune 200 Company Foundation, concentrating on non-profit audit and consulting work.
She serves as the Central Region President and National Director with NABA, Inc. (formerly National Association of Black Accountants). Brooks is a Board Member of the Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS), Leadership Indianapolis, Indy Chambers Business Ownership Initiative (BOI), Rise Indy, and Evolve. In 2022, she ran for the Indiana State Auditor and subsequently became a leader in the state party.
Brooks has received numerous accolades, including a 40 under 40 Black CPA Award by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), INCPAS' Building Bridges to the Profession, NABA's Frank Ross Outstanding Member, NABA's Dynamic Leadership, and Junior Achievement of Central Indiana’s Best and Brightest Award. She is the author of FINISH! Leveraging Career, Sport, Faith, and Failure, and is a blogger at ladyzspeaks.com.
Founded in 1977, Martin University is Indiana's only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) of higher education. It is steeped in a history of service, and its mission is to educate and develop diverse workforce-ready students in an inclusive, supportive, and collegiate environment. Martin University's vision is to elevate the landscape while providing transformative opportunities, inclusive support, and service to our communities.