Meet Vanessa Rodriguez, FAAC^®, 2025-26 Diversity Leadership Program Class.

Vanessa serves as a financial aid advisor at Garden City Community College, where she prioritizes empathy and accuracy to help ensure students have equitable access to the resources they need to persist and succeed in higher education. 

Raised in Los Angeles before moving to Kansas, Vanessa says her experience as the eldest daughter of immigrants and a bilingual learner taught her responsibility and what it means to advocate for yourself. This perspective continues to influence how she supports students, especially those who may be navigating complex systems for the first time. 

“We help students who are stressed or confused while also maintaining compliance and accuracy behind the scenes,” Vanessa said. “That balance — supporting students while getting things right — is what keeps this work meaningful to me.” 

For Vanessa, leadership development is an essential part of effective service in financial aid.

“I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone, learn more about advocacy, and better understand how to use my voice in this field,” Vanessa said. “The DLP felt like the right opportunity to connect with other financial aid professionals, build a stronger network, and learn from individuals with diverse perspectives and experiences.”

Learn more about Vanessa in the brief Q&A below.

1. How did you get your start in financial aid?

I’ve always worked in higher education, though it wasn’t part of my original plan. I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors, particularly my college advisor, who saw something in me and offered me my first job as a college prep advisor. Since then, I’ve worked as an academic counselor and coordinated programs for first-generation students, including TRIO, in Nebraska and California.

When I moved back to Kansas for family reasons, I fell into financial aid. It felt like a natural transition because I was still advocating for students, just in a different way.

2. What have been some of the most significant milestones in your financial aid career, and how have they shaped your perspective on the profession?

One major milestone for me has been earning my FAAC certification. It was something I worked hard for, and it helped to solidify my confidence in this profession.

Another milestone has been my involvement with KASFAA and learning more about financial aid professionals. As a student, I never really thought about the financial aid staff unless something was wrong with my aid. Getting to know the people behind the work has been eye-opening. Financial aid professionals are some of the funniest, most dedicated people I have met, and being part of that community has shaped how I see this profession.

More recently, working on Cohort Default Rate efforts at GCCC has been a significant milestone. It has challenged me and reminded me how impactful behind-the-scenes work can be.

3. What’s a challenge within financial aid that you personally have overcome that you're proud of?

FAFSA simplification was definitely a big challenge. It required constant adjustment, clear communication, and a lot of patience. The changes affected nearly every part of our work and forced us to rethink processes we had relied on for years.

It also allowed me to learn much more about our system and how the rules are built behind the scenes. I learned a lot about how our processes are designed, how our communication systems are created, and how everything connects. It might sound nerdy, but I really enjoyed learning how everything connects behind the scenes. Problem-solving and figuring things out as we went made me more confident and better at my job.

4. What change would you like to see in financial aid?

This is a higher education issue in general, but I would like to see changes to how advisor roles are classified, especially in financial aid. These positions are often classified at a lower level, even though the work requires a high level of knowledge, responsibility, and decision-making.

Many institutions prefer candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but the compensation does not always align with those expectations. Financial aid professionals carry a lot of responsibility, from compliance to student success, and that should be reflected in how these roles are valued. I appreciate that NASFAA has created strong resources around reclassification, and I would like to see more institutions take advantage of that work.

5. How does your perspective impact how you do your job and approach financial aid?

Students do not come to financial aid because everything is going perfectly. They come when they need help, and often they do not know exactly what to ask. I try to meet students where they are and focus on understanding the real question behind what they are saying.

I also bring a very detail-oriented, accuracy-driven mindset to my work. Compliance, communication, and processes matter, and I care about getting them right. At the same time, I believe there is always room for improvement. I appreciate that our office regularly evaluates how we can improve processes and reduce barriers for students and families. Balancing compassion with precision is what guides how I approach this work.

6. What advice do you have for those in financial aid?

Take a walk, use your sick time, and take care of yourself. I see the comments and hear how stressed we are, but at the end of the day, this is just a job, and it is not worth risking your health. I love our work as much as the next person, but if we don’t prioritize our well-being, no one else will. I know that is easier said than done, but it is true.

7. What do you do when you're not working?

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my cats and dogs, experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes while listening to podcasts, or rewatching comfort shows like Taskmaster, The Great British Bake Off, and new Asian dramas. I also enjoy reading, building Lego sets, traveling, and trying new foods and restaurants.