La Mirada, California, United States
Results-oriented leadership in financial aid, strategic enrollment management, student engagement, and student retention; achieving goals with a focus on excellent service, the student experience, staff development, and the university mission
• Provides leadership, guidance, and direction to areas of Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management, with special responsibility for: Admissions, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Titan Hub, Outreach, Recruitment and Orientation, Career Center, Center for Educational Partnerships, and Center for Internships and Community Engagement • Participates in developing campus-wide policies and procedures which enrich student experiences while supporting both academics and development areas • Leads talent development initiatives, including succession planning, professional development, and performance management to build a resilient and innovative team culture • Collaborates on a regular basis with the offices of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Vice President for University Advancement, Vice President for Information Technology, College Deans, and Vice President of Human Resources and Inclusive Excellence • Promotes an appreciation for students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds and provides leadership in maintaining a campus climate sensitive to the needs of all students • Works with community groups, governmental and non-profit agencies, as well as private sector/corporations/businesses to provide support and develop partnerships • Represents CSUF, President, and/or VPSASEM at various community relations events and programs • Develop and implements policies and programs to support inclusive excellence, educational equity, and culturally responsive practices aligned with HSI and AANAPISI goals • Provide leadership in the development and execution of strategic partnerships that advance the university’s student success, equity, and engagement goals. • Align partnership initiatives with institutional priorities, including retention, career readiness, and access to underserved student populations • Identify and pursue funding opportunities to support strategic initiatives
• Management and oversight of three Student Affairs areas: Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships Office, and Titan Hub (a one-stop shop) • Responsible for establishing goals in all three units, investigating changes and trends in student aid legislation and responding to NPRMs (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking), ensuring compliance with regulations and audits; coordinating self-review and quality control • Develop an informed staff and facilitate team building to provide prompt and accurate service to a diverse, multicultural student body • Foster staff job satisfaction, cooperation, and commitment to organizational goals, team building, and the highest-level of quality service • Responsible for eliminating barriers and creating effective systems and processes to scale services in Financial Aid, Scholarships, and One-Stop Services • Provide leadership and innovation within three critical units on digitalizing processes to scale services • Provide leadership and direction and serves as a consultant for campus partners on financial aid, scholarships, One-stop processes and practices • Accountability and Compliance Responsibility for the management of and accountability of all three units, including all federal, state, and institutional student aid funds allocated to the University for the purpose of supporting the education of its students. • Responsible for accountability of additional financial aid sources for students, i.e., state, 3rd party programs, Disney Aspire • Develop organizational policies and procedures within an integrated digital environment across campus for the efficient and effective delivery of financial aid and in a manner sensitive to the needs of the students for Financial Aid, Scholarship Center, and One-Stop-Shop Center • Initiatives, Partnerships, College Access and Campus Relations Serve as a lead for cluster, division, and university wide initiatives, projects and on-and off-campus partnerships
• A leadership style that is characterized by a positive attitude, an active, energetic mind, highly ethical practices, professionalism, teamwork, high quality service, and a commitment to diversity. • Manage the university's comprehensive financial aid program, which administers over $320 million in student aid funds. • Develop and administer the Office operating and personnel budget of $1.2 million. • Ensure compliance with regulations, audits, and program review to assess institutional compliance with federal and state legislation and regulations, analyze changes/trends in student aid legislation. • Manage and disburse all student financial aid in a manner consistent with the university's mission and responsiveness to the university's diverse student population. • Develop and implement institutional policies and procedures to effectively distribute student aid funds in accordance with applicable federal, state, and CSU system-wide regulations • Identify, obtain, allocate, utilize, and track budget resources. • Administer and monitor compliance with Collective Bargaining issues relating to staff. • Complete management activities and supervise a professional staff of 34 and student staff of 15 while providing strong leadership, professionalism, evaluation, and total team building. • Create and implement strategies; oversee organizational policies and procedures within an integrated computerized environment. • Advocate, communicate, and work collaboratively with the university community on behalf of the financial aid program. • Ensure a student centered approach to Financial Aid administration, removing barriers while providing accessible, timely, and efficient service to a diverse student population. • Leadership experience and skills in establishing partnerships within a complex organization and between the organization and its communities.
• Provided clear vision and expectations to team with consistent communication and engagement • Executed Customer Service training for Financial Aid and other departments • Supervised daily operations for the counseling staff, the front office, and student workers • Hired, lead, trained, mentored and developed staff in integral elements of work assignments • Conducted staff performance reviews, evaluations, and provide consistent motivational feedback • Created a thriving work environment by team building, coaching, mentoring, and developing staff • Tracked and reported service metrics to make data driven decisions resulting in improved service • Established yearly service goals and produce recommendations for best practices based on research • Significantly improved constituent service weight times from 30 minutes to 5 minutes • Assisted with counseling students, reviewing and auditing financial aid packages and appeals • Resolved constituent and staff complaints with tenacity-meeting needs and managing expectations • Provided Diversity and Inclusion training to university staff increasing student support and success • Effected transformational endeavor to move the Financial Aid Office to a “student centered” office • Consistently met deadlines and service goals to ensure qualitative and quantitative success • Collaborated with numerous departments to increase enrollment, exceed service expectations, ensure student engagement, and student retention • Updated and coordinated outgoing communication: forms, letters, websites, and email notification • Managed student worker budget and assist with managing discretionary budget resourcefully • Produced Financial Aid Office event calendar for events that impact Financial Aid service
Successfully completed a one year Executive Leadership program with a commitment to leadership development while serving as Associate Director of Financial Aid at Biola University. • Developed leadership, management, communication, and problem-solving skills • Cultivated independent thought, decision making, and sound judgment to effect change • Gained knowledge and critical thought on university administration and development • Collaborated on research project to produce “Alternative Revenue Streams” for the university • Presented research findings and outcomes to President and President’s Administrative Council • Assisted in designing two new positions in “Executive Education” based on research project • Assisted in planning a new department in Executive Education to produce alternative revenue
• Exceeded and sustained enrollment goals with effective recruitment strategies and best practices • Successfully implemented technology to gather, analyze, and interpret data • Assisted in hiring process: reviewed, interviewed, trained, and mentored new counselors • Executed events with excellent organization, budget management, and communication skills • Produced and executed effective presentations to various groups and diverse audiences • Advised students through admissions, financial aid, and academic advising for student success • Collaborated and traveled with Biola’s President, Dr. Barry Corey to enhance public relations • Implemented and executed “Spanish Visit Days” to reach and welcome Spanish constituents • Assisted with planning and executing Human Resources Seminars for university staff and faculty on topics of Diversity and Inclusion in the Work Place, and Customer Service • Remained student centered-building and maintaining relationships with students and families