Elizabeth Oswald-Sease

Elizabeth Oswald-Sease serves as vice president for finance and administration at Presbyterian College, where she is the institution’s chief financial and business officer and a member of President Dr. Anita Gustafson’s cabinet. In this role, she provides strategic leadership for the college’s financial planning, business operations, campus services, information technology, risk management, capital projects, and regulatory compliance, working closely with senior leadership and the Board of Trustees to support long-term sustainability and institutional mission.

Oswald-Sease brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education finance and operations, with a career spanning several colleges and universities across South Carolina. Prior to joining Presbyterian College in January 2026, she served as vice president of finance and operations and chief financial officer at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, where she oversaw finance, procurement, human resources, facilities, dining, public safety, contracts, and risk management.

Previously, Oswald-Sease held senior leadership roles at the University of South Carolina, including managing a $300 million budget for the College of Arts and Sciences and leading financial strategy and operations at the USC School of Law, where she also played a key role in developing the school’s strategic plan. Earlier in her career, she served in multiple finance and procurement positions at Winthrop University.

A first-generation college graduate and South Carolina native, Oswald-Sease earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, summa cum laude, from Winthrop University, graduating second in her class. She also holds a Master of Arts in History, with thesis work examining the media’s role in shaping public memory of Abraham Lincoln in South Carolina. In addition, she earned a Master of Business Administration and a graduate certificate in business analytics from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. She is a certified South Carolina Procurement Officer.

Beyond her professional work, Oswald-Sease serves as editor-in-chief of The Quarterly, published by the York County Genealogical and Historical Society. She and her husband live in Ridgeway, South Carolina.