RACHEL FOSTER KIRK
LOUISVILLE,KENTUCKY
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
07.2021 - 12.2023
- Programs and operations leader for non-federal aid program coordination and administration
- Manages fiscal, operational and scholarship activity for the University’s Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO)
- Collaborates with the Office of Admissions to manage budgets, awarding, disbursement, and communications
- Directs conflict resolution and financial account monitoring for the University’s admission-based scholarship programs
- Leads SFAO endowment and gift program activity; conducts reviews of charitable gift agreements and other relevant documentation; works with the Office of Advancement, development officers and others to effectively manage donor-based programs; translates guidelines and directs University personnel through applicable procedural steps essential to aid management
- Leads administration team for SFAO-managed institutional aid programs, including but not limited to, management of applications, awarding, disbursement, communications, account monitoring and problem resolution according to federal, state and/or institutional guidelines
- Serves as the primary informed resource to university departments, outside organizations, state agencies, students and staff on all related scholarship, financial aid and compliance issues; maintains informational material on associated programs; counsels students, parents, and the community on all aspects of federal, state, private and institutional assistance
- Trains university departments, team/office members, student employees, and others as it relates to the administration, management, and compliance associated with aid programs and activities for which the position and team are responsible
- Leads a team of four full-time and two part-time staff members responsible for the administration of institution-based scholarship, state aid programs, state-mandated tuition waiver programs, departmental scholarships, athletic scholarships, outside scholarship, non-federal aid programs, employee-based tuition awards, technology, and fiscal and operational business for the SFAO
- Represents the office at the Executive Director’s request and/or in their absence.
Student Financial Aid Representative
University of Louisville
02.2021 - 05.2023
- Represents Student Financial Aid Office on division-wide committee to identify areas where progress can advance education in inclusion, diversity, and equity within Enrollment Management.
Student, Representative
University of Louisville Dean of Students
03.2017 - 05.2022
- Represents all units within Enrollment Management to identify resources and support for University of
- Louisville students who are in need of care or who are experiencing distress.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
03.2021 - 06.2021
Scholarship Program Manager
12.2015 - 02.2021
- Served as program and operations manager for non-federal aid program coordination and administration, fiscal activity management and other activities associated with the Fiscal, Operational and Scholarship
- Management (FOSM) Team of the Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO)
- Collaborated with the Office of Admissions concerning the awarding, disbursement, communications, problem resolution and financial account monitoring for the University’s admission-based scholarship programs
- Monitored SFAO endowment and gift program activity and conducted reviews of charitable gift agreements and other relevant documentation
- Collaborated with the Office of Advancement, development officers and others to effectively manage donor-based programs; translated guidelines and directed University personnel through applicable procedural steps essential to aid management
- Administered SFAO-managed institutional aid programs, including but not limited to, management of applications, awarding, disbursement, communications, account monitoring and problem resolution according to federal, state and/or institutional guidelines
- Served as an informed resource to university departments, outside organizations, state agencies, students and staff on all related scholarship, financial aid and compliance issues; maintained informational material on associated programs
- Provided comprehensive counsel to students, parents, and the community regarding all aspects of federal, state, private and institutional assistance
- Provided training to university departments, team/office members, student employees, and others as it related to the administration, management, and compliance associated with aid programs and activities for which the position and team are responsible
- Supervised Financial Aid Advisor and Student Staff.
Financial Aid Advisor, Sr
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
07.2012 - 12.2015
- Coordinated awarding, disbursement, communications, account monitoring, and problem resolution associated with outside scholarships and university departmental scholarships; ensured compliance with federal, state, private, and institutional guidelines; collaborate with departments and Bursar to set up new accounts in PeopleSoft
- Assisted with award processing and communications with students receiving admissions-based, alumni and
- SFAO-managed scholarships; supported the scholarship appeal and reinstatement committee for admission-based programs.
Financial Aid Advisor
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
02.2012 - 07.2012
- Assisted counseling team in processing forms and counseling students
- Provided customer service support for walk-in appointments and call center
- Processed loan adjustments and applications
- Facilitated admissions and orientation events.
Relationship Manager
Family Scholar House
07.2009 - 12.2011
- Facilitated relationships with community, including visitors, donors, and volunteers
- Assisted the President &
- CEO with grant funding, development and donor relations, and promotion of the mission of Family Scholar
- House
- Processed and managed all gifts, entering information into the fund development software program and creating acknowledgement and thank you letters for all donations as appropriate
- Coordinated correspondence and communication with the Board of Directors
- Maintained all Board and
- Committee documents, compiling information and sharing with the Board in preparation for bi-monthly
- Board and Executive Committee meetings
- Coordinated all special events and assisted with organization committees, including the Annual Luncheon
- Committee, the Comprehensive Campaign Committee, and the PR/Communications Committee
- Served as a liaison between Family Scholar House and Jefferson County Public Schools’ Westport and South
- Park Teenage Parenting Programs (TAPP)
- Advocated for TAPP students as they transition from high school to post-secondary education.
Trainer
Family
08.2010 - 01.2011
- Scholar House Grant Writing Training Program, Conducted a training for all staff to develop the essential skills for learning and acquiring grant funding specific to the organization.
Director
University of Louisville Graduate Association for Professionals
05.2008 - 05.2009
- Responsible for the overall development of workshops, programs, and seminars related to student affairs.
Communications Fellow
College Office of Communications
08.2005 - 07.2007
- Edited all communications literature for content and grammatical accuracy including press releases, admissions and alumni publications, and the website
- Produced press releases; aided in coordinating media interviews; maintained media archives and newspaper/broadcast clips collection; assisted in weekly updates of the website
- Coordinated all activities regarding admissions recruitment and marketing tool (My CENTRE Life).
Student Ambassador
College Colonel Corps
09.2001 - 05.2005
- Conducted campus tours; hosted overnight prospective students; aided in the coordination and promotion of special events.
Education
in Financial Aid - undefined
Master of Education - undefined
University of Louisville
Louisville, KYHigher Education - Counseling Psychology
Bachelor of Arts - History
Centre College
Danville, Strasbourg, KYundefined
2003
Timeline
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
07.2021 - 12.2023
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
03.2021 - 06.2021
Student Financial Aid Representative
University of Louisville
02.2021 - 05.2023
Student, Representative
University of Louisville Dean of Students
03.2017 - 05.2022
Scholarship Program Manager
12.2015 - 02.2021
Financial Aid Advisor, Sr
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
07.2012 - 12.2015
Financial Aid Advisor
University of Louisville Student Financial Aid Office
02.2012 - 07.2012
Trainer
Family
08.2010 - 01.2011
Relationship Manager
Family Scholar House
07.2009 - 12.2011
Director
University of Louisville Graduate Association for Professionals
05.2008 - 05.2009
Communications Fellow
College Office of Communications
08.2005 - 07.2007
Student Ambassador
College Colonel Corps
09.2001 - 05.2005
in Financial Aid - undefined
Master of Education - undefined
University of Louisville
Higher Education - Counseling Psychology
Bachelor of Arts - History
Centre College
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