USA Funds Names New Team to Deliver Financial Aid Training

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Funds® announces its new USA Funds University team, which delivers training programs to financial aid administrators at the nation's colleges, universities and private career colleges.  

"These USA Funds staff members combine extensive student aid experience with a passion for serving the financial aid profession," said Denise B. Feser, USA Funds senior vice president, School and Student Services. "The new USA Funds University team will build on USA Funds' tradition of delivering innovative training programs to equip financial aid professionals with the knowledge, information and resources they need to serve their students and their institutions."

For the past 20 years, USA Funds has supported a dedicated unit for delivering training programs to promote best practices in and compliance with regulations for the administration of federal student aid programs.

Members of the new USA Funds University team include the following:

• Ron Lee, director, USA Funds University. With more than 29 years of student aid experience, Lee has served for the past five years as USA Funds customer relations manager for California. He previously managed the training and policy unit of EdFund.

• Barbara Thompson, manager, USA Funds University. Thompson's 36 years of student financial aid experience include 29 years of service at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, where her responsibilities included directing student financial aid services. Since 2003, she has developed new services and managed training program development and delivery for USA Funds University.

• Kochie Vaughan, regional training executive, East region. Vaughan offers 20 years of financial aid experience, including 10 years with USA Funds University. She previously served as assistant director of financial aid, Duke University School of Law. Vaughan serves campuses in most of the Eastern states.

• Lissa Powell, regional training executive, South region. Powell has provided training services through USA Funds University for the past three years. Her career in teaching, training and financial aid spans nearly 25 years and includes previous service as director of financial aid at Samford University. Powell serves postsecondary institutions in much of the South.

• Cheryl Foster-Hunt, regional training executive, West region. Foster-Hunt offers more than 22 years of financial aid experience, most recently with USA Funds University and EdFund. Her previous work experience includes service at Azusa Pacific University, Chapman University and Pacific Christian College. She provides financial aid training services in the West.

• Mandy Sponholtz, regional training executive, Central region. Sponholtz has provided training through USA Funds University for the past three years. She previously served in several capacities, including assistant director, in the student financial aid office of the University of Kansas. Sponholtz provides training services to financial aid administrators in the Central states.

• Mary Grundmeyer, training resources coordinator. Grundmeyer coordinates USA Funds University national training programs and publications that support those training programs. She has worked with USA Funds University for the past three years.

USA Funds University delivers training for financial aid professionals through in-person workshops, a comprehensive online curriculum of student aid and professional development courses, and through webcasts on timely financial aid topics. The fall series of USA Funds University Financial Aid Workshops begins Oct. 12, with workshops scheduled at 52 locations throughout the nation.

For additional information about USA Funds University staff and programs, visit www.usafunds.org.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that works to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services.

SOURCE USA Funds