Serving The Columbia Community
Operations is a department of University Facilities and Operations and is responsible for the maintenance and operations of the buildings, systems, and grounds on the Morningside Heights and Manhattanville campuses as well as at Baker Athletics Complex and Nevis Laboratories. Visit the What We Do section of our website for an overview of all our services and our Services Center to learn how to open a service request.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Meet Our Leadership Team
As Assistant Vice President for Manhattanville Operations, Tom oversees the operation and maintenance of the facilities comprising Columbia’s newest campus including: HVAC operations; utilities generation and distribution; project commissioning; campus preventive maintenance programs; energy conversation programs; fire safety systems; campus vertical transportation maintenance; trade and custodial services; code compliance; and project engineering associated with the University’s capital renewal program.
Tom joined Columbia in January 2021, bringing with him expertise he garnered as the Acting Architect at the U.S. Capitol where he oversaw the maintenance, operations, and preservation of the Capitol complex, comprised of 18.4 million square feet of facilities and 570 acres of grounds. Tom’s many accomplishments in various roles over 11 years at the U.S. Capitol include developing a strategic report on energy use reduction and sustainability, managing multiple high-profile renovation and restoration projects, and directing the largest congressional office move since 1974.
Before that, he served as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force for 20 years, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and maintained facilities worldwide to ensure operational readiness and provide support to critical military and combat operations.
Tom holds a B.A. in electrical engineering from the University of Vermont and an M.S. in Administration from Central Michigan University.
Marjorie (Marge) Stockford is Executive Director for Client Services, leading the Client Services team and Service Center in delivering excellent client service between Facilities and Operations and Columbia’s many schools and departments. Marge and her team build connections with University clients and optimize Facilities and Operations’ effectiveness in identifying, evaluating, and supporting facilities and operational needs.
An accomplished institutional leader, Marge has a strong technical background and decades of experience in customer service, human resources, and team management. Prior to Columbia, Marge served as a senior executive in the corporate, small business and non-profit sectors, across the fields of technology, human rights, and education. She ran Dun and Bradstreet’s data communications network in western Europe, led operations and administration for the YWCA of the U.S.A., recruited provosts and deans for the University of Michigan, Rice University, and other higher education institutions for Auerbach Associates Executive Search, and oversaw three J-1 visa programs for CIEE, the country’s largest international educational exchange provider. She is also the author of The Bellwomen: The Story of the Landmark AT&T Sex Discrimination Case published by Rutgers University Press in 2004.
Marge holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an MBA from NYU and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Gerald McGillian is vice president for operations at Columbia University Facilities and Operations. In this position, Gerry is responsible for overseeing the operations and maintenance of the University's utilities, energy management, building operations, and custodial services to maintain all academic, administrative, and residence hall buildings as well as campus grounds for the Morningside Heights and Manhattanville campuses, Baker Athletics Complex and Nevis Laboratories.
Prior to Columbia, Gerry worked at the University of Chicago, where he held a position overseeing the operations and maintenance at its 9.5 million square-foot campus. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Pennsylvania as the Director of Facility Trades, where he managed the operation and maintenance of various building systems, central utilities, and grounds.
Gerry holds both his bachelor of science and master of science in mechanical engineering from Drexel University.