Salina Rao

· Delivered postproduction support to client using PeopleSoft to enhance system functionality.

· Worked on implementation of a New AI financial aid tool

· Analyzed current business processes and recommended solutions to streamline operations.

· Worked on Testing and design of the Tool.

· Worked on training staff on the tool.

· Led implementation of new AI financial aid tool to improve service delivery.

· Conducted testing of the AI financial aid tool to ensure functionality and performance. and design of the Tool.

· Facilitated training sessions for staff on the new AI financial aid tool, enhancing their proficiency. staff on the tool.

· Led the testing phase of the AI financial aid tool to assess its effectiveness and reliability. testing the AI tool.

• Worked as a Financial Aid Consultant for Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions to 6 different institutions.
• Provided guidance on federal regulations.
• Assisted with activities such as loan processing, batch processes, configuration, and troubleshooting system related issues, while training staff on product usage and system issue resolution.
• Provided functional support with automating business processes.
• Guided staff on compliance with federal regulations regarding financial aid processes.
• Assisted with activities such as troubleshooting system issues. Provided documentation on Summer Pell awarding.
• Reviewed and updated financial aid reports and queries to ensure compliance with FAFSA simplification changes.
• Reviewed and updated Financial Aid Report/queries to accommodate changes associated with FAFSA simplification.
• Troubleshot system issues and documented processes for Summer Pell awarding.
• Guided on federal regulations, gathered requirements for new reports and client needs, and provided solutions for system-related issues while assisting developers with requirements interpretation and testing of custom solutions.

• Led the functional team through requirement gathering sessions. Documented requirements and presented the requirements to the technical design team.
• Tested and documented POCs for Oracle Student Financial Planning (SFP) system, focusing on document tracking, notification, and cost of attendance and awarding design.
• Documented business requirements and analyzed data for student initiation, supplemental documents, and SAFI files to ensure alignment with project goals.
• Mapped data for SFP files to ensure accurate integration.
• Assisted with researching regulatory requirements for financial aid and presenting it to the technical teams.

• Worked as an interim financial aid director. Led a staff of four senior associate directors and 20 staff members in different roles in the financial aid office. Served as a financial aid liaison to the admissions, student records, business office, and the technical teams. Guided compliance with federal regulations to ensure financial aid processes met legal standards. Provided functional support with automating business processes. Worked on troubleshooting and providing solutions with the PeopleSoft system for Financial Aid. Assisted vice president of enrollment management with enrollment strategy. Analyzed enrollment and financial aid awarding issues, delivering insights that informed strategic decision-making. Provided support with fund management and allocation projections for federal, institutional and state funds.
• Led strategic initiatives to enhance academic program development and delivery across diverse departments.
• Directed cross-functional teams to implement effective resource allocation and optimize operational efficiency.
• Fostered collaborative relationships with faculty and administration to drive curriculum innovation and improvement.

• Provided production support to financial aid team. Led training sessions on PeopleSoft functionality including SAP, reconciliation, R2T4, and disbursement. Streamlined business processes and optimized use of delivered functionality.
• Supported the financial aid team with creating testing scenarios and data for Oracle Student Financial Planning during the initial stage of SFP/Vocado implementation.
• Led PeopleSoft Campus Community implementation. Worked on conversions for bio demo data. Tested and implemented conversions. Provided documentation for customizations. Assisted with troubleshooting problems and issues during testing. Coordinated and led client meetings regarding project related activities such as determining To Be business processes, providing solutions to system gaps, finalizing modification design documents, configuration, and testing. Provided guidance to management teams with regard to project timeline, implementation activities, and weekly status updates for Financial Aid. Provided information and guidance to the technical team to assist them in modification development work.

• Worked as a ERP Financial Aid consultant for 5 different institutions. Implemented PeopleSoft Financial Aid for a multiple institutions.
• Designed and implemented customizations for Federal Work Study interface, winter term/session, online verification form, Federal Work Study Interest form, Cal Grant reporting interfaces, BOG fee waiver application, and Satisfactory Academic Progress processes. Converted SAP, ATB, and student permissions from client legacy system to PeopleSoft.
• Conducted discovery / assessment sessions for the Financial Aid module. Recommended solutions to support and streamline the client business processes. Coordinated and delegated project tasks functionally and technically.
• Configured the system to meet client specifications. Created configuration guides, Test scripts for Unit, System integration and User acceptance testing.
• Coordinated and led client meetings to define business processes, address system gaps, and finalize modification design documents. Collaborated with Student Records, Recruiting and Admissions, and Student Financials to align project activities and timelines with Financial Aid requirements.
• Implemented new improved business processes. Wrote functional design documents for all Financial Aid modifications.
• Guided technical team on modification development, ensuring alignment with functional design and client specifications.

• Executed Financial Aid PeopleSoft implementations across 5 institutions, enhancing system functionality and user experience.
• Supported requirements gathering, configuration, and prototyping demos.
• Provided support with activities such as requirements gathering, configuration, prototyping demos, Testing, Writing business process guides, Training, report writing and guidance with Federal Regulations and its impact on their business processes and how to streamline business processes.
• Gained experience working with working with overseas institutions on implementing Peoplesoft financial aid.

• Directed compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies across 17 campuses.
• Provided 17 campuses support with financial aid counseling, managing staff, Lead meetings and training on federal and state grants and loans and institutional funding and awarding.
• Developed and documented federal and institutional policies and guidelines for 17 institutions, ensuring consistency and adherence.
• Streamlined business processes and centralized major processes such as ISIR load and COD processing.
• Implemented product updates, patches and bug fixes. Centralized FFELP Loan Processing and Pell Processing for 11 campuses.
• Set up the system to meet user requirements.
• Coordinated and led training for Financial Aid end-users.
• Implemented two separate systems such as PeopleSoft and PowerFAIDs.
• Coordinated and led training sessions for financial aid end-users, enhancing their operational knowledge.
• Trained end users on all systems.
• Led testing.
• Tested integration between PeopleSoft PowerFAIDs.
• Created security roles and permissions.
• Oversaw testing procedures for system functionality.
• Assisted with IPEDS and FISAP.

• Provided financial guidance and support to students and parents on college financing and helped award them financial aid packages.
• Managed federal programs including Pell, Perkins Loan, and Cal Grants to ensure accurate distribution and compliance.
• Worked with Lending institutions and ELM system to help manage student Alternative loans.
• Provided technical support with EDexpress, EDConnect, and CSAC grant system.
• Provided assistance with NSLDS and COD reporting.
• Provided assistance with IPEDS reporting.
• Assisted with NSLDS and COD reporting to maintain institutional reporting standards and accuracy.
• Conducted training sessions for staff to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• Coordinated staff assignments and office activities as an associate to the director to enhance workflow and team collaboration.
• Helped implement the Banner/Ellucian system.
• Worked on system configuration and testing updates and enhancements.
• Helped with streamlining business processes.