Jun 9College Aid Offices Need to Battle Financial TraumaIn its simplest form, trauma is an individual’s emotional response to a distressing situation. Traumatic events often occur suddenly and feel beyond a person’s control. These experiences leave people with a persistent feeling that catastrophe could strike at any moment. Trauma comes in many forms and can impact disparate areas…Mental Health5 min readMental Health5 min read
Sep 13, 2021The Hard Truth: What We’re Doing to Solve Award Letter Confusion Isn’t Good EnoughInstitutions, policymakers, and advocates need to do more than read CampusLogic’s data report on award letter confusion. People who can need to step up and drive change. With 3 million students dropping out of higher education every year due to financial reasons — many taking debt with them but no…Financial Aid7 min readFinancial Aid7 min read
Sep 1, 2021Overcomplications Impact Restarting Student Loan RepaymentsIn a recent episode of The Higher Ed Shift, Carlo Salerno and I discussed the state of the federal student loan portfolio. We tackled discussions and debate around loan forgiveness and how to end the loan repayment pause that started as COVID relief. …Student Loans3 min readStudent Loans3 min read
Aug 29, 2021Financial Fit is a Thing: Ignoring it Won’t Help Your StudentsWord choice matters We may not want to admit it, but we’re not always as careful with our language as we ought to be. Exhibit A: Irregardless. Exhibit B: Misunderestimated. Exhibit C: Fit. Yes, you read that right: Fit. From the clothing we buy to whether a job applicant is…Paying For College5 min readPaying For College5 min read
Apr 29, 2021Four reasons we are not seeing better financial literacy outcomesThe end of April brings with it the end of Financial Literacy Awareness Month. During this time, I have found myself in several conversations about the value and importance of the topic itself. …Financial Literacy4 min readFinancial Literacy4 min read
Mar 31, 2021It’s time to talk: Here’s why we can’t cancel student loan debt by executive actionStudent loan forgiveness has dominated headlines over the past six months. Largely, I’ve seen back and forth arguments about the legality of debt forgiveness, and whether the President has the authority to single handedly offer it. Economists argue over the value of forgiveness and if it will stimulate the economy…Student Loans4 min readStudent Loans4 min read
Feb 22, 2021How to Drive Change With Your Financial Aid Awareness AudiencesFebruary may be short, but there is a lot to recognize in the second month of the year including National Financial Aid Awareness month. The irony is not lost on me that we chose the shortest month of the year to create awareness around one of the most complex and…Higher Education4 min readHigher Education4 min read
Oct 22, 2020A silent crisis: COVID-19’s Impact on College Enrollment NumbersThis article was co-authored by Carlo Salerno and Amy Glynn — As fall college enrollment numbers continue to get reported, the rollercoaster that the COVID pandemic has had on American higher education continues. This past week the National Student Clearinghouse released its most recent — and grim — enrollment report, which covers some 54% of Title IV degree-granting institutions in the…College4 min readCollege4 min read
Sep 14, 2020COVID on Campus: A Catalyst for Higher Education to ChangeWith every day that passes, I see more people talking about the surprising spread of COVID-19 on college campuses. There is righteous indignation by administrations that students are not following guidelines they have established. Language at times, has become adversarial and aggressive. Colleges have taken swift and deliberate actions in…Higher Education4 min readHigher Education4 min read
Sep 4, 2020Rethinking Constitution Day: 4 Ideas for a Virtual CelebrationI can not believe I am about to write these words, but September is here. I grew up in the Northeast, so September always feels like it should be the end to summer and a gateway to fall, my favorite time of year. One magical day you open your eyes…Higher Ed3 min readHigher Ed3 min read
