Open to opportunities

Maria Johnson

@mariajohnson1

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Experienced higher-education financial aid leader driving compliance, process improvement, and student success.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek a leadership role in higher education where I can improve financial aid operations, mentor staff, ensure compliance, and enhance student outcomes.

I am a perceptive educator and higher-education financial aid professional with over 15 years of experience managing financial aid operations, supervising teams, and ensuring regulatory compliance. I have led onboarding and training, managed day-to-day award processing, overseen wires and loan closings, and supported student academic progress and eligibility.

My strengths include process improvement, staff mentorship, and balancing operational controls with student-focused service. I stay current on education trends and regulations to deliver efficient systems that meet diverse student needs and institutional requirements.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Assistant Director, Languages

Current

University of California, Riverside

Mar 2024 - Present (1 year 8 months)

Provided immediate supervision to Processing Unit employees and oversaw unit operations to ensure compliance with departmental policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Team Leadership Operations Management Compliance Policies Staff Supervision Process Improvement Internal Controls Spanish English

Associate Director

Westcliff University

Dec 2021 - Mar 2024 (2 years 3 months)

Managed and supervised all financial aid processes for awarding loans, grants, and scholarships and monitored students' satisfactory academic progress.

Financial Aid Administration & Compliance Award Packaging Counseling Records Management Higher Education

Wire Desk Specialist

Taylor Morrison

Oct 2019 - Nov 2021 (2 years 1 month)

Prepared daily wires for mortgage loan closings across multiple warehouse banks and managed haircut requirements to support closing operations.

Wire Transfers Banking Operations Attention To Detail & Compliance Loan Processing

Financial Aid Officer

Osceola School District

Nov 2017 - Apr 2019 (1 year 5 months)

Provided financial aid assistance to students in compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines to ensure proper awarding and counseling.

Regulatory Compliance Documentation FAFSA Customer Service

Financial Aid Counselor

Daytona State College

Feb 2017 - Nov 2017 (9 months)

Counseled students on financial aid eligibility, application procedures, aid programs, costs, indebtedness, and money management.

Counseling FAFSA Higher Education

Enrollment Services Specialist II

Seminole State College

Apr 2016 - Feb 2017 (10 months)

Assessed learning outcomes and evaluated applicability of prior coursework, certifications, and military experience to support student enrollment and credit award decisions.

Student Services Customer Service Enrollment management