Adina Long
High Point,US
Summary
Higher education professional with over 15 years of extensive expertise in financial aid management and strategic planning. Demonstrates a visionary approach in enhancing enrollment management and compliance, leveraging strong leadership and communication skills. Passionate about fostering innovative strategies to drive organizational growth and student success. Strong leadership in managing financial aid programs, compliance, and policy development. Known for fostering teamwork and adapting to evolving needs while consistently delivering impactful results. Skilled in budget management, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning and innovation. Dependable, collaborative, and results-driven with knack for navigating complex financial landscapes.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Student Financial Services
Forsyth Technical Community College
09.2020 - Current
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department by encouraging staff to share best practices and innovative ideas for enhancing service delivery.
- Conduct regular training sessions for faculty advisors on financial aid topics, enabling them to provide informed support to their assigned students.
- Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations through rigorous auditing practices and staff training initiatives.
- Managing a diverse team of professionals to deliver exceptional customer service and support to students and families.
- Improved policies and procedures to maximize compliance capability, efficiency and succession.
- Streamlined communication channels between various campus offices involved in the financial aid process to ensure seamless service delivery to students.
- Championed technological advancements within the department that led to increased efficiency in processing applications while maintaining accuracy.
- Improved student financial services by streamlining processes and implementing new technologies.
- Collaborated with faculty, staff and students to identify and address institutional challenges.
CEO
All Installs and Repair Inc.
06.2013 - 12.2022
- Providing strategic leadership for the company by working with the board of directors and the executive management team to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies
- Engaged in diversifying company portfolio to include sales in addition to service
- Executed the expansion of servicing one city area (Greensboro/Triad) to three city areas to include (Charlotte/Metro Area), and (Raleigh/RDU/RTP Area)
- Aided in the approximate 214% YOY increase in revenue from 2013 to 2014 and additional 50% YOY 2015 to 2016
Interim Director of Financial Aid
Bennett College
02.2020 - 10.2020
- Duties involved sustaining the department of financial aid through its transition during this current VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment
- Additional duties included modifying processes and procedures to improve production outcomes and henceforth customer service
- Also, this role required I report pertinent information to executive leadership and make adequate recommendations based on data from the financial aid department
- I demonstrated sound judgment and provide data-supported rationale in the decision-making process
- As a partner with other offices on campus, my role encompassed leading the financial aid team in developing and implementing leveraging strategies and tuition discount policies and practices to support enrollment goals and budget requirements
- Duties included managing the processing of all forms of federal and state aid, coordinating, and attending workshops for training of financial aid staff, and assisting with securing and attending trainings that enhance awareness of multiple financial aid processes and additional compliance areas.
- Also, I managed the training of financial aid staff on current financial aid processes, managing and coordinating the verification process
- I served as coordinator of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Review Committee. I assist with ensuring customer service through counseling students and families
- I manage the transmission of importing and exporting electronic data in addition to managing the disbursement of funds.
- I coordinated and reconciled funds monthly to ensure program integrity.
- Additionally, I assisted with the determination of eligibility for financial aid electronic packaging. I assisted with maintenance of the financial aid website, coordination of Title IV processing, and generated reports as needed
- I managed the organization the strategic administration of federal, state, and institutional aid.
- I managed standard financial aid duties such as verification, loan processing, scholarship recruitment and disbursement, and packaging
- I managed the coordination of compliance processes, keeping the college in line with department of education policy, and procedure regulation and recommendations.
- Awarding and processing grants and loans through the Common Origination Disbursement site (COD)
- Managed the most consequential audit post Stand With Bennett campaign, given the impending application for TRACs accreditation.
Associate Director of Financial Aid
Bennett College
06.2019 - 02.2020
- Duties include managing the processing of all forms of federal and state aid, coordinating and attending workshops for training of financial aid staff, and assisting with securing and attending trainings that enhance awareness of multiple financial aid processes
- Also, I assisted the director with training financial aid staff on current financial aid processes, managing and coordinating the verification process
- I serve as coordinator of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Review Committee I assist with ensuring customer service through counseling students and families.
- I co-managed the transmission of importing and exporting electronic data in addition to managing the disbursement of funds.
- Additionally, I assist with eligibility determinations and the automation of packaging.
- I assisted with maintenance of the financial aid website, coordinate Title IV processing, and generate reports as needed.
- I assist in the organization and supervision of the financial aid department to administer federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds and services
- I performed standard financial aid duties such as verification, loan processing, scholarship recruitment and disbursement, and packaging.
- I assisted in improving compliance to keep the college in line with department of education standards.
- I assist in improving compliance, policy, and procedure, with the addition of NASFAA membership and resource training materials.
- Awarding and processing grants and loans through the Common Origination Disbursement site (COD)
- Lead training initiatives with team regarding powerfaids.
- Led the effort to improve scholarship awarding strategies for the institution.
- Executed YoY growth of the UNCF Scholarship program and our annual recipients.
Financial Aid Counselor
Bennett College
07.2018 - 06.2019
- Provided financial aid counseling to enrolled and prospective students.
- Authored presentations and documentation for distribution to current and prospective students.
- Communicated with prospective students to illustrate available financial aid opportunities.
- Represented financial aid office at group meetings with high school students and parents.
- Reviewed financial aid appeals, issuing secondary and final judgments on award packages.
- Managed the UNCF Scholarship Program and facilitated student application process trainings to improve our recipient outcomes as a member institution.
Financial Aid Team Leader
South University
08.2012 - 08.2016
- Planned, organized and supervised the Financial Aid department to administer federal, and institutional financial aid funds and services
- Perform standard financial aid duties such as needs analysis, verification, loan processing and satisfactory academic progress monitoring in coordination with third party servicing.
- Disseminated and distributed information to the executive committee and engage members of SACS accreditation board and Board of Governors as leadership needed.
- Consistently kept aid paid at 95% or better for the department by week 8 or and 11 week term and maintained satisfactory financial aid and VA audit ratings.
- Set performance expectations for the team, monitoring progress towards goals and providing constructive feedback as needed.
- Empowered team members by delegating responsibilities according to individual strengths and areas of expertise.
- Managed conflict resolution among team members, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Maintained an inclusive and diverse team culture, promoting respect and understanding among all members.
Student Account Representative
Strayer University
04.2009 - 08.2012
- Attained several commendable audit ratings and received award for outstanding collections for top campus in the region
- Worked cohesively with ADA's or Admissions Coordinators to facilitate outstanding service to prospective students and their parents
- Assisted in the management and training of new student account representatives
- I ensured aid was paid to students' accounts in a timely manner
- I was responsible for accurately completing files and paperwork, certifying loan applications, and completing basic verification/QA and C Code requirements
- Executed reduction in overall receivables for Title IV aid and payment plan collections to increase profitability of campus and balance reduction for students
- Completed business office functions including daily deposit report (DDR) reconciliations and bank deposits
Education
Ph.D - Education Policy
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA06.2028
Master of Business Administration -
South University
Savannah, GA07.2023
Master of Public Administration -
Strayer University-North Carolina
Greensboro, NC09.2013
B.S. - Marketing
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC08.2011
BBA - Legal Studies
Strayer University-North Carolina
Greensboro, NC03.2010
Skills
- Leadership
- Compliance
- Collaboration
- Strategic Planning
- Customer Service
- Budgeting
- Policy Development
- Data Analysis
- Enrollment Management
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Process Improvement
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Change Management
- Higher Education Knowledge
- Team Management
- Financial aid expertise
- Loan Counseling
Systems
- ELLUCIAN/COLLEAGUE
- CAMPUSLOGIC-STUDENT FORMS AND CAMPUSMETRICS PLATFORM
- ORACLE/PEOPLESOFT 360
- CAMPUSVUE
- POWERFAIDS
- JENZABAR
- MICROSOFT TEAMS/OFFICE SUITE
Professional Development
- FAAC Designation, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), 05/23, 05/26
- Leadership Excellence Program, Forsyth Technical Community College, 01/23, 03/23
- Chief Student Development Leadership Academy, NCCC System, 11/21, 05/22
- Executive Leadership Collective, NASFAA, 09/24, 06/25
Publications
BLEND SPOTLIGHT-STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES: THE POWERHOUSE OF THE INSTITUTION BY ADINA E. T. LONG, MPA, Blend, 05/21
Activities
- NASFAA 2022 Leadership and Legislative Expo
- Coordinator for the scholarship program (including UNCF) at Bennett College
- Aided in approximate 214% YOY increase in revenue from 2013 to 2014 and 50% YOY 2015 to 2016 for All Installs and Repair Inc.
- Executive Committee Member and representative for Financial Aid Department-South University-2012-2016
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools designated accreditation representative for the Financial Aid Department at South University (start-up campus)
- Board of Governors designated representative for the Financial Aid Department at South University (start-up campus)
- Chairperson for The Education Foundation Scholarship Committee
- Delta Mu Delta member
Timeline
Director of Student Financial Services
Forsyth Technical Community College
09.2020 - Current
Interim Director of Financial Aid
Bennett College
02.2020 - 10.2020
Associate Director of Financial Aid
Bennett College
06.2019 - 02.2020
Financial Aid Counselor
Bennett College
07.2018 - 06.2019
CEO
All Installs and Repair Inc.
06.2013 - 12.2022
Financial Aid Team Leader
South University
08.2012 - 08.2016
Student Account Representative
Strayer University
04.2009 - 08.2012
Master of Business Administration -
South University
Master of Public Administration -
Strayer University-North Carolina
B.S. - Marketing
North Carolina A&T State University
BBA - Legal Studies
Strayer University-North Carolina
Ph.D - Education Policy
Liberty University
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