Nicastro named American Savings Foundation Endowed Chair in Banking & Finance

The Board of Regents for Higher Education of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System appointed Michael D. Nicastro, J.D., '84 as the American Savings Foundation Endowed Chair in Banking & Finance at Central Connecticut State University, effective March 19.

The American Savings Foundation Endowed Chair in Banking & Finance supports the appointment of a senior practitioner with a distinguished record of national or international recognition in banking and finance to the School of Business. Housed in the Department of Finance, the chair plays a vital role in advancing academic excellence, industry engagement, and thought leadership in the field. 

Nicastro will also lead the university’s innovative Banking Excellence Certificate program, the first of its kind in the Northeast. In this role he will work to strengthen partnerships with the financial services sector, enhance student career readiness, and expand experiential learning opportunities.

Nicastro will serve a three-year term, renewable annually at the university’s discretion. He will teach one to two courses per semester; organize an annual public lecture or high-profile symposium focused on current issues in banking, finance, or financial technology; and build upon connections between the university and community banks, regional institutions, and financial technology organizations. He will also collaborate with the School of Business and Institutional Advancement to enhance visibility and outreach.

A 1984 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Nicastro brings decades of executive leadership and academic experience to the position. He currently serves as an associate professor of Management and Organization and as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Central, where he teaches and mentors students through experiential learning and engagement with real-world business challenges.

A veteran of academics, banking, and financial technologies (fintech), Nicastro brings a unique combination of experience to the role. He has been a member of the faculty at Central for 12 years and he serves as Entrepreneur in Residence and chair of the School of Business Advisory Council. Nicastro is also on the adjunct faculty at Western New England University School of Law and has been a guest lecturer at Yale University School of Management. 

Nicastro also served as the CEO of Continuity, a fintech technologies company; senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Open Solutions Inc. and COCC; and as president and CEO of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce. Nicastro also has prior experience in the banking industry with Bristol Savings Bank and Citicorp, and he served on the board of the former Simsbury Bank & Trust.

In addition to his academic and professional work, Nicastro has served in leadership roles on several corporate and nonprofit boards. He is currently board chair of Hartford Stage and treasurer and trustee of the American Clock & Watch Museum.
Nicastro holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Central Connecticut State University and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University.

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