Michael McCabe has seen a lot of changes since he first joined the Metropolitan State University of Denver Bursar’s Office in 2008. After earning a degree in Accounting from San Francisco State University and working in magazine publishing, McCabe moved to Colorado eager for a new career challenge. When he set foot on the MSU Denver campus, the institution’s students, mission and sense of purpose and community instantly resonated.
“I immediately knew this was where I wanted to be,” McCabe said. “The energy, the diversity and knowing I could have a positive impact on students sealed the deal. It was institutions like MSU Denver that gave me the opportunity to get an education and elevate myself from my humble beginnings, and as I’m the proud father of two multiracial children, diversity and inclusiveness are very important to me.”
McCabe spent 15 years rising through the ranks and watching MSU Denver grow from a college to a university and gain Hispanic-Serving Institution status. As a first-generation student and son of immigrant parents, he feels a personal connection to the University’s student body. His passion for serving students (as well as his professional prowess) recently earned him a new title: executive director of the Office of the Bursar. McCabe now leads the critically important team that helps students manage tuition payments and navigate myriad billing-related needs.
“The Bursar’s Office has always been committed to trying to make the student experience better,”
McCabe said. “We eliminated the long lines for students picking up paper refund checks by introducing direct deposit. Similarly, we made paying for tuition and fees easier by promoting online payments through the student portal. We also introduced payment plans so students can attend while paying off their balance.”
While he’s new to his leadership position, he has always been an advocate for access and for broadening awareness of the bursar’s services among his colleagues.
“I’d like staff and faculty members to know that if they have a student with financial struggles or concerns, they can have them contact the Bursar’s Office,” he said. “The sooner we can work with a student experiencing financial difficulties, the better the chances that we can keep that student enrolled and on the path to graduation instead of them stopping out.”
“Mike brings both personal and professional characteristics to make him the perfect fit to step in as our new bursar,” said Larry Sampler, chief operating officer and vice president for Administration. “As someone who attended institutions like MSU Denver and who took a nontraditional path to his degree, he has lived the experiences facing many of our students. When he talks with them, he has a deep understanding of their day–to–day lives, which allows him to deliver customer service that is authentic and relevant.”
Sampler also noted that McCabe understands the operations inside and out and brings solutions and student-centered perspectives to his leadership. He believes McCabe’s mindset and deep expertise will translate to practical, meaningful improvements to bursar services.
“Mike has asked questions about how we make our billing as transparent as possible and how we make the in-person experience intuitive, and he will work with the team in all of those areas to deliver high-quality service to students,” Sampler added.
That enthusiasm and focus have served McCabe outside of work as well.
He earned a second-degree black belt in the traditional Korean martial art of kuk sool won and regularly racks up miles on his bike. He even turned his passion for cycling into a creative, community-minded way to amplify the University’s mission and meet critical student needs as one of the founding members of the Road Riders Cycling Club at MSU Denver. Club-membership proceeds go straight to the Student Emergency Fund, a stipend for students who are dealing with unanticipated and/or catastrophic life events that might otherwise cause them to stop or pause their educational goals. In 2022, MSU Denver provided more than $300,000 to students in need of help with housing costs, utilities, car repairs, child care and other financially difficult situations.
For McCabe, it’s all in a day’s work.
“I’m motivated to give students like me and those wanting to elevate and empower themselves that opportunity,” he said.