Having Cramer on board is a good strategy

Stephen Cramer brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit world to his seat on the Cardinal Cushing Center board of directors. 

Cramer, vice president of partnerships at Orbis Education, has worked largely in the education, health and social service sectors. At Orbis Education, he is responsible for university partnership operations, financial profitability, and strategic growth and planning of nursing education programs. He is also tasked with developing policies in information technology, online education, space and facilities, financial and administrative operations and more. 

A graduate of UMass Amherst and Suffolk University, Cramer earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and his master’s in business administration. Early in his career, he served as the director of finance and administration at Tufts University, and then the chief financial officer of Duke University’s School of Medicine. 

“I think I was partly drawn to education due to my wife and seeing what she was doing in the public schools,” he said. 

His wife, Elizabeth, worked as an elementary school teacher in Scituate Public Schools for 30 years. They raised two children, Jeffrey and Emily, while living in Stoughton, and now live in Falmouth. 

Cramer also worked as the CFO for Caritas Christi Health Care, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Southcoast Health. His most recent position before joining Orbis Education was associate dean of administration and finance at Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences. It was while he was at Northeastern that a colleague and former Cushing board member, Jeanine Mount, introduced him to Cushing.

“She would talk about the Sisters and the organization and the learning,” said Cramer. “It’s amazing to me the dedication of the staff, and I love seeing the accomplishments and the satisfaction the students get.” 

While serving on the board, he has been continuously impressed by the growth and investment in Cushing, and credits that to President and CEO Michelle Markowitz.

“Hands-down, it’s due to Michelle and her leadership, and the team in there now,” said Cramer. “It’s really fulfilling to be able to position the organization to continue to serve its participants, and have these strategic discussions. The transformation, particularly with the new classrooms and residences and vocational sites, is a huge accomplishment.”