Tiffany Cunningham

Tiffany Cunningham began her Penn State career in 2008 within the College of Agricultural Sciences, later advancing to manage a high-visibility, $135 million research grant with the U.S. Department of Energy for the College of Engineering, which represented the largest grant Penn State had ever received at the time. She has served as a Financial Officer for the College of Education, the Office of the President and Provost, and most recently, supported Penn State Information Technology by leading budgetary operations, strategic financial analysis, reporting, and compliance efforts to enhance operational efficiency and accountability. Tiffany is passionate about building high-performing teams, collaborating with others, and implementing best practices to support Penn State’s research mission and fiscal responsibility.

With over 16 years of experience in financial management, research administration, and compliance, Tiffany now joins the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research as the inaugural Director of the Financial Analysis and Compliance Office (FACO). She earned a Juris Doctor from New York Law School and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Africana Studies from Vassar College. She is a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is deeply engaged in the Penn State community, having earned multiple certifications and served on various steering, advisory and volunteer committees. Tiffany is also a recipient of the ACOR Collaboration Award, served on the ACOR Executive Committee, was an ACOR Fellow, and was an instructor in the ACES program, where she shared her expertise in personnel and labor rules.