Vinay Singh
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York College Alum’s Career Path Leads to Position in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
For Vinay Singh ’93, York College was a logical choice.
“I always say that small towns, especially being an immigrant, are what make America great. York College embodied a lot of that small-town feel,” he says.
Singh started his college career at Drexel University but came back to York County (and York College) for his remaining three years. It ended up being a beneficial decision. “I found myself back at YCP and I'm really happy that I did, because it turned out to be the best decision for me,” he says.
Singh, who graduated with a B.B.A. in Marketing, especially appreciates the connections he was able to form with his professors while at York College. “You find a few courses, and most likely it's going to be the professors that teach those courses that you find you connect with,” he says.
He attributes his ability to “stay small, have a drive, and not get overwhelmed by big decisions and focus” to the College.
Singh spent his years after YCP exploring what he wanted to do. He started out working in his field, in marketing, but later switched to finance, “because I just love numbers,” he adds.
His career path then shifted to government. He served as Senior Adviser to the Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration before being appointed as Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “I'm not a true politician in the sense of a fundraiser or a campaign volunteer, but I like to give my time back. And I did that and got lucky and had a wonderful time and wanted to give time to public service once again,” he adds.
As Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, finance is exactly what Singh does now, but he’s also focused on leadership. “People don't quit jobs, people quit leaders,” he explains. “I want to continue to enhance what is already a pretty positive culture. This journey is about culture. It's about people and me learning from the people around me.”
Singh enjoys the community he was a part of during his time at YCP, and credits the College with giving a basic foundation for his career to further evolve. “It truly is a liberal arts college in the sense that you're able to explore,” he says. “York College has many aspects that they're known for, but the biggest aspect is that the College lets you evolve with a free mind, and that's allowed my career to grow.”