Deneene Merchant

Experienced higher education leader with over 20 years of progressive responsibility in 4-year public universities, 2-year community colleges, and proprietary schools. Built a strong foundation in public service and policy as a Policy Assistant to former Governor Richard F. Celeste of Ohio. Demonstrated expertise in leadership, program development, and strategic initiatives aimed at increasing college access for underrepresented students. Committed to delivering quality education through a career built on service, integrity, and uncompromising ethics. Professional with a robust background in directing and managing large-scale operations, consistently driving success through strategic planning and execution. Adept at implementing innovative solutions that enhance productivity and operational effectiveness. Known for fostering teamwork and adapting to evolving business needs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

• ATIXA Certifications
• Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA)
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
• Program Integrity Rules Compliance Training
• Senn Delaney Leadership Training
• PDI Ninth House Training
• LeadStrong Training

· Managed aid budgets up to $65 million annually.

· Lead CSCC through TIV eligibility for new BA in Nursing degree.

· Successfully lead CSCC through FAFSA Simplification: Major overhaul in federal student aid in nearly 40 years.

· Contributed to the reduction of the college's Cohort Default Rate (CDR) from 34.1% to 21.9% over 3 years at Hocking College.

· Served as Interim Director of Admissions at Hocking College resulting in a 3% increase in new student enrollment.

· Received recognition/Certificate of Achievement from Student Connections, 2016 Excellence in Default Prevention.

· Successfully manage SEVIS in the capacity of Primary Destination School Official (PDSO) at Hocking College.

· Successfully supported 23 schools which included training for directors and/or their staff; conducting staff observations through the student enrolment process to confirm consistency in process & procedures and compliance; and, managing reports and metrics to ensure desired performance outcomes for student enrolments, campus bad debt, and cash collections at Corinthian Colleges, Inc (CCI.)

· Received awards for 1st Place Bad Debt Management and Best Cash Collections FY10 at Everest Institute.

· Contribute to several accreditation reviews resulting in 5-year and 10-year approval to operate at CSU and Everest respectively.

· Served as lead manager for all campus audits (state, federal, internal), to include Sarbanes-Oxley audits.

· Developed action plans and staff developmental plan for Student Finance department to improve student satisfaction survey resulting in achieving above 85% satisfaction rate, the highest increase of all departments at the college.

· Successfully managed school communications to resolve customer complaints moving from grade of ‘F' to ‘A' with the Better Business Bureau at Everest Institute.

· Increased financial aid packaging by 43% with the implementation of electronic loan processing at CSU.

· Contributed to successful grant proposal resulting in reinstatement of Upward Bound Program at OSU.

· Implemented Federal Work Study Program for Kaplan online, enabling student's access to this need-based student employment program.

· Received several performance bonuses and other recognition for program development at various institutions.