Ashley Eppley-Dernar Email & Phone Number

Pittsburgh, Pa, Us

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

- Lead a team of seven financial aid professionals and overall customer service coverage for a total of fifteen counselors.- Oversee and reconcile federal loans, private loans, out-of-state grants, and graduate aid that results in over $260,000,000 in financial aid.- Spearheaded the implementation of a quality assurance process for several audited processes. Some of these processes is federal loans, federal verification, website compliance, overawards, SAP. From this knowledge, we establish errors, and develop training plans to help alleviate future compliance issues. - Developed written policies and procedures for guidance on federally regulated processes used by 30 staff members, as well as internal auditors. - Member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. - Developed a written strategic plan to office leadership and marketing on website improves and currently the lead in content change, while consulting federal regulations. - Chair of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee that reviews over 300 appeals annual for financial aid.- Consulted by all areas of the office, as well as external offices to consult on student accounts, confirm conflicting data, and develop resolutions after research from federal handbook and other areas of research.- Facilitate and guide training for all new counselors. Since I have moved to my role, I have been involved in the training of eight new counselors.- Develop relationships with external stakeholders to develop rapport with customers and outside agencies, as well as internal stakeholders to ensure the accuracy of programs, proper information, and best interest of the student. - Review student's accounts and financial aid programs based on written policies and guidance from the Department of Education.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

- A member of the Loan Processing Team.- Reviewed Update Forms to manage any changes that students and familiar wished to make on their loans. - Assisted in awarding Private Education Loans, PLUS loans, and federal student loans. - Reviewed Default, Bankruptcy, and other C-codes.- Processed Professional Judgements and Verifications.- Lead counselor processing 399 codes at the start of prior-prior year for FAFSA.- Engaged with students and families regarding their questions and concerns about financial aid. - Authored procedures for processing overawards, defaults, and summer aid requests forms. - Trained staff in Default resolutions.- Lead presenter for multiple Admissions and Financial Aid programs with the ability to keep audiences engaged. - Participated in a Facebook Live event and answered questions by prospective students and their families. - Reviewed student's accounts and ensured privacy and protection of personally identifiable information.- Researched conflicting data on student's accounts and resolved any issues. - Presented to OAFA leadership on DEI concerns students faced with financial aid and provided suggestions for improving their success.- Consulted Director of Financial Aid regarding process improvements and continuity errors and created improvements to processes.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

- Student consultant for Achieva Family Trust- Worked with the organization to help advance their strategic plans.- Tasked to analyze Pennsylvania demographics for individuals with disabilities, the resources for special needs trust funds in those areas, and where the organization currently has beneficiaries.- Collected data from the Census Bureau, the organizations, and interviews with other competitors in these areas of question.- Leveraged Excel spreadsheets to develop maps, charts, and equations to properly organize the data based on counties, regional trust liaison, and beneficiaries.

Financial Aid Office

-File student's information into their financial aid folder-Send out emails, missing information letters, and letters detailing their award package-Talk to student's about their financial aid concerns and deal with any questions they may have-Present information to students and parents coming into the office-Input received information into an Excel Spreadsheet, as well as into their online accounts-Assist with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Process-Assist with the Verification Process

Johnstown, Pennsylvania Area

-Worked at the cash register for merchandise sales and entrance fees-Helped sell National Park Passes-Answered any questions people who visited the park may have-Helped with the Junior Ranger Program with story telling, making crafts, and learning about the outdoors-Worked during the anniversary of the 1889 flood-Introduced people to the movie that plays in the theater-Started the movie/projector

Stoystown, Pa

I was in the Counselor in Training program, which I took a summer sessions about the specifics of being a camp counselor and the rules surrounding the camp. After I successfully completed my session, I volunteered two times as a camp counselor, which entailed a week long camp session with children usually between the ages of 6-12. During this time I guided them to each activity, had to watch out for their well-being, created and taught bible lessons to the children, and had to think of games and other activities to do, if there was any down time. I had to know how to complete every activity, such as the rock climbing wall, the swimming test, and the challenge course. For an entire week, I was responsible for a large group of kids and had to help ensure they had a great time and learned something from the bible studies.

Master'S Degree, International Relations And National Security Studies

Bachelor'S Degree, History, Political Science, And Sociology

Activities and Societies: Phi Eta Sigma, Delta Epsilon Iota, Phi Alpha Theta/History Club, Habitat for Humanity, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Sigma.

High School