Our March Team Spotlight features Michelle Bedford, Ed.D., who joined College Aid Services in 2024 as a Senior Consultant. Michelle’s career journey began as a VA/Financial Aid Counselor at Clayton State University, and she later held leadership roles as Interim Director of Financial Aid at Atlanta Metropolitan State College and Director of Financial Aid at Southern Crescent Technical College. Her extensive expertise in compliance, federal program reviews, and training development has made her a valuable asset to the financial aid field, our clients, and our team.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies from Clayton State University, a Master of Arts in Education from Central Michigan University, and a Doctor of Education from Argosy University.
What do you like most about being a consultant?
I enjoy the variety of challenges and the opportunity to continuously learn and grow. I love being able to help other professionals navigate the complexities of federal aid programs. The satisfaction of seeing clients succeed is very fulfilling.
What do you enjoy about working for College Aid Services?
I love working with the College Aid Services team. The experience everyone brings to the table is awesome! Working with experienced colleagues is incredibly inspiring. It’s great to work in such a collaborative environment.
What areas do you specialize in?
My greatest strength is compliance!
How do you stay up to date with regulations and policy changes?
I have been in the higher education field for almost 40 years, 25 of those have been in financial aid. There are always major updates to processes and regulations, it comes with being in this business. To stay abreast of these constant changes, I rely on my colleagues, FSA updates, NASFAA, SASFAA, and GASFAA to keep me up to date.
What challenges do you see on the horizon in Financial Aid?
As we have recently seen, the dismantling of the Department of Education is sure to bring issues for those of us in financial aid and the millions of students we strive to assist. I can only imagine that this will increase our workload and frustration. However, I know that my colleagues and I will continue to do all that we can to ensure that financial aid is accessible to all students, as this remains a critical issue, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Furthermore, addressing disparities in aid distribution and completion rates is essential for promoting equity in higher education.
What advice would you give to a new Financial Aid officer?
I have always told those who are new to financial aid that to be successful, you have to be willing to learn and be flexible. No one comes to financial aid to become rich; you either love it or hate it. Those of us who stick around do it because we love helping students reach their academic goals.
What do you like to do outside of your profession?
I am an avid reader. I love mysteries! I enjoy crocheting for family and friends. Most of all, I enjoy spending time and being Nana to my grandchildren!
If you are interested in joining Michelle and the rest of our College Aid Services team, review our current openings here. To learn more about how College Aid Services can help your institution, contact us at info@collegeaidservices.net or by phone toll-free at 833-GETCAS1 (833-438-2271).