Experience

• Widener University

  Financial Aid Counselor / Work-Study Coordinator

  Kathleen worked at Widener University as a Financial Aid Counselor / Work-Study Coordinator

• Rosemont College

  Associate Director of Financial Aid (9/98 - 2/99)

  Consultant (7/98 - 9/98)
  
  • Awarded and verified all incoming and returning students
  • Administered the Federal Pell Program and the State Grant programs
  • Utilized the C.M.D.S. software system to communicate awards to the Accounting Office
  • Responsible for the completion of the F.I.S.A.P.

• Harcum College

  Director of Financial Aid (11/95 - 6/98)

  Assistant Director of Financial Aid (3/91 - 11/95)

• Delaware College of Art and Design

  Director of Financial Aid

  • Ensured compliance with all state and federal programs
  • Monitored regulatory changes and responded to all N.P.R.M.’s
  • Created and maintained the DCAD financial aid policies and procedure manual
  • Initiated DCAD’s first ever Title IV audit which yielded no audit findings
  • Established payroll processing procedures through the Financial Aid Office for institutional work-study students
  • Streamlined the financial aid award packaging process
  • Utilized P.H.E.A.A.’s OneLink system to administer all aid programs
  • Administered the Federal Pell grant program, Federal Family Education Loan program, the Delaware
  Scholarship Incentive Program, the Pennsylvania state grant program, Enterprise Zone scholarship, alternative loan programs and institutional program
  • Increased the awareness of financial aid availability through mass mailings, presentations during portfolio days, and campus visits leading to an increase in the number of students receiving aid
  • Developed two financial aid informational fact sheets, one to assist students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (F.A.F.S.A.), and the other to assist with scholarship research
  • Established a contract with the Veterans Administration to enable DCAD students to participate in the Veterans Educational Benefits program
  • Contracted the National Loan Clearinghouse to process the Student Status Confirmation Report on line at no cost to the institution
  • Collaborated with the Director of DCAD and the Director of Admissions to modify the DCAD merit grant awarding policy resulting in an increase in higher caliber students
  • Presented information concerning financial aid and the implications on recruitment and retention to the Board of Trustees on a semi annual basis
  • Served as a member of the steering committee for DCAD’s strategic plan, judicial board, and the Delaware Mentor Program

• Eastern University

  Director of Financial Aid

  • Ensured compliance with all state and federal programs
  • Supervised, trained and evaluated the two Assistant Directors of Financial Aid, the Loan Coordinator, College Work Study Counselor, Special Programs and Projects Coordinator, Graduate Counselor and three work-study students
  • Updated and changed job descriptions and duties to more effectively handle the volume of work
  • Utilized the software system to complete the SAP review procedure in half the time as in the past
  • Utilized the Janzabar, Excel, and Windows 2000 software systems
  • Collaborated with the Director of Admissions and Noel Levitz to modify Eastern's merit grant awarding policy resulting in an increase in higher caliber students
  • Monitored regulatory changes and responded to all N.P.R.M.’s (Notice of Proposed Rule Making)
  • Streamlined the financial aid award packaging process
  • Streamlined the importing and posting of all loans in the accounts receivable department
  • Brought all computer hardware up to regulations
  • Conducted a Technical Assistance Review with PHEAA/AES with no findings
  • Worked with the Department of Education to ensure compliance during the merger with Eastern’s Theology School
  • Implemented procedures due to previous years internal audit finding

• Wilmington University

  Financial Aid Associate

  • Responsible for the graduate student financial aid program
  • Advised and awarded all graduate students using EDExpress
  • Administered the graduate student loan program using Sallie Mae’ Opennet and AES Onelink systems
  • Assisted the Bursars office with troubleshooting student issues