Associate Vice President for Financial Aid
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA - United States
WittKieffer is honored to partner with Tulane University leading their national search for a forward-thinking, collaborative leader to serve as their next Associate Vice President for Financial Aid (AVP). This position provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to Tulane’s mission and impact the lives of students through innovative financial aid solutions, building on the strong financial state of the university and its operations.
Reporting to the University’s Vice President for Enrollment Management, Shawn Abbott, the Associate Vice President for Financial Aid oversees comprehensive financial aid services and processes for all student populations, including undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online programs, on Tulane’s Uptown and Downtown New Orleans campuses. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing advanced financial aid strategies, ensuring regulatory compliance, streamlining processes, fostering a collaborative team environment, and working closely with leaders across the University to enhance the overall student experience through effective financial aid services.
Key responsibilities for the Associate Vice President for Financial Aid include but are not limited to the following:
- Provide strategic direction, leadership, and development for the financial aid staff, while increasing the level of customer service and visibility of the University’s financial aid operations both internally and externally.
- Work closely with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and other senior leaders to align financial aid strategies with the University’s enrollment goals through data analysis and strategic planning to optimize the allocation of financial aid resources, ensuring that Tulane remains competitive and accessible to a diverse student body.
- Maintain federal regulatory compliance including overseeing review of communications from federal and state governments, interpreting, and implementing as required. Complete necessary applications for federal and state funding and fiscal operations report.
- Serve as the lead contact with various financial aid consultants to assure that services rendered are in-line with the University’s mission and goals.
- Manage the fiscal and material resources allocated to the office and monitor the processing and maintenance of University’s financial aid software system.
A private university that offers a unique blend of top-tier research and high-quality education closely linked to its hometown of New Orleans, Tulane University is undergoing rapid transformation, with funded research doubling over the past decade, numerous new initiatives across various departments, and strong enrollment demand. With an enrollment of over 14,000, Tulane offers 75 undergraduate programs and over 200 graduate and professional programs through nine schools and college. The financial aid office is poised to evolve alongside these changes, and the new Associate Vice President will play a crucial role in this transformation. This includes addressing emerging needs of today’s students and implementing technology and automation in service of the student experience.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in financial aid operations, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university with at least seven years of experience working in a college or university setting, including three years in a supervisory role. A master’s degree is preferred, along with a deep understanding of federal Title IV aid regulations and excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills. A commitment to customer service, the ability to lead a team, manage complex projects, and navigate the cyclical demands of a financial aid office is essential.
WittKieffer is assisting Tulane University in this search. Applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. For fullest consideration, candidates should provide, as two separate documents, a résumé and a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Profile. Priority deadline is January 3, 2025. Applications should be submitted by clicking the buttons below or via email to WittKieffer consultants Christy Pratt, Rob Springall and Roxana Woudstra at [email protected].