2022-23 Movers & Shakers

Below are a few colleagues who were honored with awards or recognitions, or made changes in their professional lives, in 2022-23.

Job Changes & Promotions

  • June 23, 2023 – Christy Snedeker was promoted from associate director of financial aid to director of undergraduate financial aid at Wilkes University.
  • June 23, 2023 – Robin Walker was promoted from associate director of compliance and reconciliation to director of graduate financial aid and compliance at Wilkes University.
  • June 21, 2023 - Bethany Vincent, formerly the senior associate at One Stop, North Dakota State University, is now a financial aid administrator at North Dakota State University.
  • June 20, 2023 - Michelle Newton, formerly the financial aid counselor at New York University, is now the assistant director of financial aid at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
  • June 16, 2023 - Jayme Jarrett, FAAC®, was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to associate director of financial aid at Ohio Northern University.
  • June 13, 2023 – Jaime Missimer, FAAC®, was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to director of financial aid at Pearl River Community College.
  • June 5, 2023 – JoEllen Price, FAAC®, formerly the executive director of financial aid at Houston Community College, is now the dean of financial aid and scholarships at San Jacinto College.
  • June 1, 2023 - Deirdre Hurley, FAAC®, formerly the academic/financial aid counselor at North Shore Community College, is now the assistant director of financial aid at Brandeis University.
  • June 1, 2023 – Susan Stephenson, FAAC®, was promoted from admissions director to enrollment management executive director at Western Nebraska Community College.
  • June 1, 2023 - Jeffrey Louis-Jean, formerly the financial aid counselor for global financial support at New York University, is now the financial aid analyst for PhD hub at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
  • May 30, 2023 – Darcy Johnson, FAAC®, formerly the assistant director of communication and compliance at Emporia State University, is now the assistant director of compliance at Washburn University.
  • May 29, 2023 – Liz Petroski was promoted from associate director of FAMS to director of financial aid at Excelsior University.
  • May 22, 2023 – Ange Seraphin was promoted from assistant director to associate director at University of South Florida.
  • May 16, 2023 - Melissa Magnusson, formerly the senior financial aid counselor at Central Washington University, is now the director of financial aid at New Mexico State University.
  • May 15, 2023 - Shala Latorraca, previously the director of financial aid at Southwestern Christian University, is now the director of financial aid at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
  • May 15, 2023 – Hunter Yarborough, FAAC®, was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to associate director of financial aid at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
  • May 15, 2023 - Tara Torres, formerly a financial aid counselor at Jacksonville University, is now the assistant director of scholarships and strategic initiatives at University of North Florida
  • May 15, 2023- Greg Thornburg, formerly the senior assistant director of financial aid and scholarships at Ball State University, is now the financial aid director at South Lousiana Community College.
  • May 10, 2023 - Jared Menghini was promoted from interim vice president of enrollment management & financial aid to vice president of enrollment management at Wilkes University.
  • May 10, 2023 - Paul Friebus was promoted from lead assistant director of financial aid to director of financial aid training and compliance at Ivy Tech Community College.
  • May 8, 2023 - Lottia Windhamformerly the senior student financial operations specialist/financial literacy at Southern Methodist University, is now the regional director of financial aid campus operations/outreach for Austin Community College.
  • May 8, 2023 - Phyllis Molina was promoted from senior counselor to lead counselor at the University of Washington.
  • May 8, 2023 – David Vera, formerly the manager of financial aid at Urban College of Boston, is now the assistant director of financial aid at Endicott College.
  • May 5, 2023 - Misty Pippin was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director student financial services - counseling at Jacksonville University.
  • May 2, 2023 - Quintin Sipp, formerly a financial aid counselor at New York University, is now the assistant director of financial aid at Columbia University.
  • May 1, 2023 - Vanessa Mayse was promoted from senior associate director of student financial aid to director of student financial aid and veteran services at Florida SouthWestern State College.
  • May 1, 2023 – Rosa Belvis was promoted from dean of enrollment affairs to chief enrollment management officer at Carlos Albizu University.
  • May 1, 2023 – Emily Fultz was promoted from loan coordinator to SMHS financial aid counselor at George Washington University.
  • May 1, 2023 – Christine Morris was promoted from director of financial aid to executive director of financial services at Excelsior University.
  • May 1, 2023 - Marilena Botoulas was promoted from assistant dean for financial aid to associate dean for curriculum and programs at Columbia University Business School.
  • May 1, 2023 - Jonah Hammonds was promoted from program support specialist to counselor 1 at City University of Seattle.
  • April 25, 2023 – Chad Sartini, FAAC®, formerly the associate director at Virginia Tech, is now the director of financial aid, veterans' affairs and records at Virginia Western Community College.
  • April 24, 2023 - Anthony Morrone, FAAC®, was promoted from director of financial aid to associate vice president for student financial services at Nevada State College.
  • April 17, 2023 - Lara Clifton-Rice was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to associate director of financial aid and operations manager at Northern Michigan University.
  • April 17, 2023 - Christine Taylor was promoted from associate director of financial aid and veteran services to director of financial aid and veteran services at Bellevue College.
  • April 17 ,2023 - Sandra Peppard was promoted from financial aid counselor to director of financial aid at Kentucky Christian University.
  • April 3, 2023 - Rebecca Carr was promoted from interim vice president of compliance and financial aid services to vice-president of financial aid and regulatory affairs at Salem University.
  • March 20, 2023 - Eyricka Oglesby was promoted from principal secretary to assistant financial aid counselor at Northern Michigan University.
  • March 16, 2023 - Alexandra Tubbs, FAAC®, was promoted from verification coordinator to director of financial aid at Arkansas State University-Beebe.
  • March 13, 2023 - Janessa Horstman was promoted from financial aid resources and planning associate to financial aid system coordinator at Western Technical College.
  • March 6, 2023 - Timothy DuFresne was promoted from wolverine services representative to wolverine services supervisor at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
  • March 3, 2023 - Morgan Dawson, formerly the senior financial aid counselor at Harcum College, is now the assistant director of financial aid at Villanova University.
  • March 1, 2023 - Kathleen Thomas was promoted from director of financial aid to assistant vice president of financial aid and retention at University of Mount Union.
  • March 1, 2023 – Kim Thompson was promoted to senior financial aid counselor at Youngstown State University.
  • March 1, 2023 - Nancy Chalker is now the head of campus development at Edly Student Loans.
  • March 1, 2023 - Anna Kopit was promoted from corporate director of financial aid to vice president of financial aid at Center Education Group.
  • March 1, 2023 - Lorena Rodriguez was promoted from deputy director to director of financial aid and scholarships at University of California, Santa Cruz.
  • March 1, 2023 - Jennifer Benson was promoted from financial aid advisor to assistant director for verification and appeals at University of Georgia. 
  • March 1, 2023 - Jesse McMillan, formerly the senior associate director of financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University, is now the director of financial aid at Reynolds Community College.
  • February 27, 2023 - Forrest Stuart was promoted from interim vice president for enrollment management to vice president for enrollment management at Lafayette College.
  • February 21, 2023 - Scott Wallace-Juedes, formerly the director of undergraduate financial aid at Yale University, is now the associate vice president of financial aid at New York University.
  • February 16, 2023 - Janice Garza, formerly financial aid advisor IV at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, is now manager, financial aid quality assurance title at Lone Star College.
  • February 6, 2023 - Nicole Adner was promoted from associate director of financial aid to director of financial aid at Clarkson University.
  • February 3, 2023 - Matthew Shinsky, was promoted from supervisor of financial aid contact center to senior supervisor of program integrity at Liberty University.
  • February 1, 2023 – Paige Kiley was promoted from assistant director, financial aid to director, financial aid at Edison State Community College.
  • January 23, 2023 - Cristi Millard, FAAC®, formerly the director of special projects & compliance, financial aid at Salt Lake Community College, retired from the institution after 35 years. Cristi is now working as a financial aid administrator at Western Governors University. 
  • January 23, 2023 - Brynn Juranek was promoted from senior manager of processing and awarding to director of processing and awarding at Rasmussen University - Eagan.
  • January 23, 2023 - Sarah Kasabian-Larson, formerly the director of financial aid at Mid Michigan College, is now the director of scholarships and financial aid at Central Michigan University.
  • January 13, 2023 – Nicole Stockland was promoted to director of operations at Ashland University.
  • January 5, 2023 – Brittany Harper, formerly financial aid counselor at the University of Washington, is now the interim director of student financial services at North Seattle College.
  • January 3, 2023 – Dana Tate, formerly the associate director of student financial services at George Washington University, is now the district director of financial aid at Los Rios Community College District.
  • January 3, 2023 – Kendra Kaveney was promoted from financial aid specialist II to assistant director of processing and loans at Baylor University.
  • January 3, 2023 - Kristopher Hatcher, FAAC®, formerly the financial aid director at Gulf Coast State College, is now the executive director, student financial services at Polk State College.
  • January 1, 2023 - Kimberly Stubbs was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to director of financial aid at University of Central Arkansas.
  • January 1, 2023- Jennifer Miller was promoted from senior manager, compliance and policy to director, student aid compliance at University of Texas at El Paso.
  • December 12, 2022 – Ursula Backus was promoted from coordinator of financial aid to financial aid director at Gulf Coast State College.
  • December 2, 2022 - Joette Murphy was promoted from financial aid operations specialist to assistant director of financial aid at Elon University.
  • December 2, 2022 - Morgan Troxler was promoted from data entry specialist to financial aid operations specialist at Elon University.
  • December 2, 2022 - Naomi Versaille was promoted from financial aid customer service specialist to administrator of colleague for financial aid title at Elon University
  • December 1, 2022 – Sherry Steelman was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director student financial services/operations at Jacksonville University.
  • December 1, 2022- Kimberlee Kainulainen was promoted from executive secretary to financial aid technician at Northern Michigan University.
  • December 1, 2022 - Thomas Mcwhorter, formerly the dean of financial aid at the University of Southern California, is now the dean of student financial services at Northeastern University.
  • December 1, 2022 - James Flowers, EdD, formerly the associate director of processing at the University of Washington - Seattle, is now the director of financial aid and veteran services at Tacoma Community College.
  • December 1, 2022 - Luke Leitner, was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid & student employment manager at Ripon College.
  • November 14, 2022 – Amy Schmalfuss was promoted from Associate Director of Student Financial Services to Director of Student Financial Services at Roberts Wesleyan University.
  • November 7, 2022 - Gena Boling, FAAC®, was promoted from director of the office of enrollment compliance and design to associate vice provost for enrollment at Cornell University.
  • November 4, 2022 - Ashley Lowe, was promoted from financial aid specialist to manager of financial aid systems at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
  • November 1, 2022 - Kari Meyers, FAAC® was promoted from financial aid systems analyst to program manager for enrollment & student services at the College of Western Idaho.
  • November 1, 2022 - Samuel Oliver, Jr., formerly the financial aid officer at Chattahoochee Valley Community College is now the associate director of financial planning & registrar services at Mercer University School of Medicine.
  • November 1, 2022 - Brenda Buzynski, was promoted from senior associate director to assistant provost & director of student financial aid at the University of Iowa.
  • October 24, 2022 - Carrie Short, formerly the director of student financial aid at Lorain County Community College, is now the director of financial aid at Lakeland Community College.
  • October 17, 2022 – Ashley Reich was promoted from executive director of government affairs to vice president of equity compliance at Liberty University.
  • October 17, 2022 - Shawn Olson, was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to associate director of financial aid at Northern Michigan University.
  • October 17, 2022 - Kimberly DeMaa, was promoted from financial aid specialist to assistant financial aid manager at Moraine Park Technical College.
  • October 16, 2022 - Kiely Fletcher, was promoted from executive director of financial aid and scholarship to associate vice provost for enrollment management at University of Illinois at Chicago.
  • October 3, 2022 - Silvia Marquez, formerly the associate director of financial aid & scholarships at University of California, Berkeley, is now the executive director of financial aid & scholarships at University of California, San Diego.
  • October 3, 2022 - Stephanie Lueck, was promoted from financial aid specialist to financial aid systems coordinator at Moraine Park Technical College.
  • October 1, 2022 - Miranda Robertson, was promoted from senior financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid at University of Portland.
  • September 19, 2022 - Shawn Morrissey, formerly the director of financial aid at UMass Chan Medical School, is now the director of college relations at MEFA. 
  • September 19, 2022 - Shannon Muraco, FAAC® was promoted from senior accountant to audit supervisor at McClintock & Associates.
  • September 1, 2022 – Belinda Pena was promoted from manager, financial aid outreach & special programs to associate director, financial aid and veterans outreach at Austin Community College.
  • September 1, 2022 – Kamesia House, formerly the executive director of scholarships & financial aid at Fayetteville State University, is now the associate vice president of strategic enrollment management and executive director of financial aid and scholarships at Delaware State University.
  • September 1, 2022 - Rebecca Dobry, formerly the assistant director at University of Nebraska - Kearney, is now the area director of financial aid at Central Community College.
  • September 1, 2022 - Christian Ramirez was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to associate director of financial aid systems management at Teachers College Columbia University.
  • September 1, 2022 - Alyssa Timko was promoted from associate director of financial aid to senior associate director of financial aid at Teachers College Columbia University.
  • August 15, 2022 - Christopher Rodriguez, FAAC® was promoted from campus director to director at Rowan College of South Jersey.
  • August 8, 2022 - Caroline Hernandez, formerly the campus financial aid supervisor, is now the regional director, financial aid campus operations/outreach at Austin Community College.
  • August 3, 2022 - Chad Olson, FAAC®, was promoted from senior associate director to director of financial aid operations at Iowa State University.
  • August 1, 2022 – Roxana Zeledon was promoted from senior financial aid counselor to associate director of financial aid at Middlesex Community College.
  • July 29, 2022 - Maria Sager was promoted from senior director of financial aid to assistant vice president of financial aid services at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
  • July 18, 2022 - Kerstin Alston, formerly the associate director of financial aid at York Technical College, is now the senior director of financial aid at Columbia College.
  • July 15, 2022 - Christie McDonald was promoted from associate director to director of financial aid at Northwood University.
  • July 11, 2022 - Dr. Rob Kniss, formerly the executive director of student financial aid and scholarships at University of Memphis is now the executive director of student financial aid and scholarships at Texas Tech University.
  • July 11, 2022 - Daniel Barkowitz, FAAC®, formerly the assistant vice president of financial aid and veterans’ affairs at Valencia College, is now the assistant vice president of financial assistance and student employment at the University of Miami.
  • July 5, 2022 - Reilly Watanabe is now the assistant director financial aid compliance & operations at Colorado Mountain College.
  • July 1, 2022 - Lou Parrott, was promoted from default management and pell coordinator to assistant director of financial aid at Morris College.
  • July 1, 2022 – Andrew Hammontree, FAAC® was promoted from director of financial aid to director of student administrative services at Francis Tuttle Technology Center.
  • July 1, 2022 - Alexandria Jackson was promoted from manager of financial aid services to associate director of outreach and development at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
  • July 1, 2022 - Dr. Alexander Jordan was promoted from assistant director of compliance & awarding to executive director at Ashland University.
  • July 1, 2022 - Katie Cooper was promoted from director of financial aid to assistant vice president of enrollment management at West Liberty University.
  • July 1, 2022 - Alyssa Corvi was promoted from assistant director to senior assistant director of financial aid at Wesleyan University.
  • Amber Yocom, formerly the director of financial aid at Northwest State Community College, is now the Banner financial aid support specialist at Terra Community College. Amber also recently earned a master's degree in organizational leadership from Bellevue University.

Retirements

  • June 30, 2023 – Ken Kocer, currently the director of financial assistance at Mount Marty University, will retire in June after 32 years of working in financial aid.
  • May 25, 2023 – Robert Quinn, currently the director of IT services for the office of student aid at Pennsylvania State University, will retire at the end of June after 40 years of working in financial aid. Bob is also the founder and owner of Finaid-L, the first email listserve for financial aid administrators, which was established in 1992. 
  • January 13, 2023 – Gary Garoffolo, formerly the student support services specialist at The University of Tulsa, retired in January after 46 years of working in financial aid. Gary also previously worked at Oklahoma State University, Cameron University, University of Evansville, Franklin College, Bearing Point, and FSA Services.
  • January 6, 2023 – Arnold Trejo, currently the executive director of financial aid & scholarships at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will retire in January after over 40 years of working in financial aid. Arnold also previously served as assistant provost and executive director for Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He also served in a variety of positions in higher education administration, including assistant vice president of student services, director of student outreach & financial services, and director of financial aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.
  • December 31, 2022 - James Tilton, currently the dean of financial aid at Brown University, will retire in December after 42 years of working in financial aid. James also previously worked at San Diego State University, University of Southern California, Yale University, Columbia University, and at Federal Student Aid. 
  • December 31, 2022 - Jennifer Stephens, currently the university director of financial aid at Indiana University, will retire in December after 33 years of working in financial aid. 
  • December 31, 2022 - Cheryl Lyons, currently the director of student financial aid at University of Central Arkansas, will retire in December after 37 years of working in financial aid. Cheryl previously worked at East Central University and Murray State College.
  • December 30, 2022 - Catherine Breuer, currently the assistant vice president of student financial aid at Rasmussen University, will retire in December after 37 years of working in financial aid. 
  • October 31, 2022 - Ruth Cramer, currently the senior associate director of financial aid at Dickinson College, will retire in October after 40 years of working in financial aid. Ruth also previously worked at Wilson College.
  • August 1, 2022 - Roberta Johnson, executive director of student financial aid at Iowa State University, has retired after 40 years of working in financial aid. She notes "I will be working with Chad Olson, who was recently named director of student financial aid operations throughout the next year. Thanks to NASFAA's Succession Planning track at the NASFAA Leadership Conference in February for making this transition possible!"
  • July 1, 2022 - Diane Ray, most recently the associate director of financial aid at Walsh University has retired after working in financial aid for over 30 years. She also previously worked at Mercer University and The Ohio State University.

Awards, Recognitions, & Other

  • April 19, 2023 – Jacob Bommarito, financial aid counselor at Harding University, received the Philo Brasher Emerging Leadership Award at the AASFAA (Arkansas) Spring conference.
  • April 19, 2023 – Tara Torres, financial aid counselor at Jacksonville University, graduated with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and was selected as a Distinguished Graduate Business Scholar from Jacksonville University.
  • February 24, 2023 – George Fox University’s financial aid office reached the milestone of 50% of their office now holding an FAAC® designation – the highest percentage in Oregon.   

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