Gianna Jade Franco
Tucson,AZ
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Aid Counselor
Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid
Tucson, AZ
02.2023 - Current
- Address inquiries from students, parents, and supporters through various virtual and in-person methods.
- Collaborate with OSFA units and UA campus partners to ensure compliance with financial aid eligibility.
- Maintain proficiency in federal, state, and institutional regulations governing student financial aid.
- Utilize multiple federal and institutional databases, including COD and NSLDS, for accurate information retrieval.
- Identify discrepancies in cases, conducting research to provide effective solutions and strategies.
- Administer Title IV financial aid programs while ensuring adherence to institutional policies.
- Facilitate staff training sessions to enhance team knowledge on financial aid processes.
- Acted as the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth point of contact for eligibility assessments.
- Acted as a point of contact for students attending the American University Washington Semester Program
Financial Aid Specialist
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Tucson, Arizona
07.2022 - 02.2023
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations regarding financial aid programs.
- Guided students through the financial aid process and answered inquiries.
- Coached students and families on appropriate financial aid plans and eligibility.
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Assisted with special projects as assigned by management team.
- Assisted with training new employees.
Student Worker
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Tucson, Arizona
03.2021 - 07.2022
- Answered telephones, directed calls, and documented messages efficiently.
- Delivered customer service support through phone, email, and in-person interactions.
- Guided students on eligibility criteria for various financial aid options.
- Assisted with special projects as required, ensuring timely completion.
Front Desk Receptionist
Psychology Department
Tucson, AZ
03.2020 - 11.2020
- Handled a high volume of students, faculty, and families who came to the front with questions.
- Answered all incoming calls, delivered campus errands, and sorted and distributed mail.
- Helped the business team with processing financial documents.
- Assisted graduate coordinator with filing and organizing documents for graduate students.
- Assisted with filing, making copies, maintaining spreadsheets, scanning documents, and other administrative-related tasks.
Student Assistant
The Frances McClelland Institute
Tucson, AZ
08.2019 - 03.2020
- Handled website maintenance including updating text and linking information to outside sites, creating new pages, uploading new files and web features to site and posting weekly news, events, and Institute updates on social media platforms.
- Helped create and edit publication/newsletter drafts and check that text is accurate.
- Created posters, flyers, social media images, programs, and additional promo materials for events.
- Assisted in event coordination.
- Updated/inputted data, maintained listserv on Mailchimp and UA Listserv, and filtered data to create mailing lists and labels.
- Researched information on certain topics, and/or people, and assisted FAHD faculty and graduate students as needed with current research projects.
Student Worker
Parking and Transportation Services
Tucson, AZ
08.2019 - 03.2020
- Assisted with UA athletic and non-athletic events throughout academic year.
- Facilitated traffic flow and parking accommodations for special events.
- Provided visitors with parking options and details on concurrent campus activities.
- Collected fees, sold tickets, and ensured accurate change distribution.
- Performed various office tasks to support operational efficiency.
Education
B.A. - Political Science
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZHigh School Diploma -
Nogales High School
Nogales, AZSkills
- Bilingual communication
- Data analysis proficiency
- Software application knowledge
- Time management skills
- Operational processes expertise
- Event coordination
- Project management
- Attention to detail
- Sensitive material handling
- Training facilitation
Certificates Awards
- Certificate of Arizona Technical Skill Standards
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Professional Judgement
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Satisfactory Academic Progress
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Verification
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Federal Pell Grant Program
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Campus-Based Programs
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Need Analysis
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Return of Title IV Funds
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Application Process
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Direct Loans
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Certification: Cost of Attendance
Timeline
Financial Aid Counselor
Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid
02.2023 - Current
Financial Aid Specialist
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
07.2022 - 02.2023
Student Worker
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
03.2021 - 07.2022
Front Desk Receptionist
Psychology Department
03.2020 - 11.2020
Student Assistant
The Frances McClelland Institute
08.2019 - 03.2020
Student Worker
Parking and Transportation Services
08.2019 - 03.2020
B.A. - Political Science
University of Arizona
High School Diploma -
Nogales High School