April 19, 2022

To:  Student Success Division Staff

Re:  Staffing Changes in University Financial Aid and Scholarship Services

From: Dr. Renay Scott, VP for Student Success

This memo is an update on changes coming to the leadership of University Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.  At the end of April, Dr. Vandeen McKenzie will leave NMSU to become the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Dr. McKenzie came to this campus from NMSU-Alamogordo in 2016, and she has provided outstanding leadership, system-wide, to Financial Aid and Scholarship Services since then.  Her extensive knowledge and experience has ensured that our $160 million annual distribution of scholarships, loans, and grants adheres to federal, state, foundation, and NMSU policies and procedures.  I am confident Vandeen will be successful in her new role. Please join me in wishing Vandeen all the best as she transitions to Florida.

I am pleased to announce that Virginia Tucker has agreed to return to the role as Interim Director for Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.  Virginia brings significant knowledge and fourteen years of experience in Financial Aid at NMSU, and the NMSU System will be in good hands under her leadership.

The Student Success Division will launch a search for the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services this spring.  Seth Miner, AVP of Enrollment Services, will serve as a co-chair for the search, and the search committee will form over the next several weeks.  As this role serves the NMSU System, the search will include branch campuses on the committee and during the interview process.  I will provide more information to all of you as information about the search committee and timeline for the search emerges.

Beginning July 1, University Financial Aid and Scholarship Services will report directly to Seth Miner, AVP Enrollment Services.  This change will bring key enrollment services under one leader, allowing for closer collaboration and enrollment planning.  My goal for bringing this set of departments together is to ensure consistent, excellent support across the multiple departments primarily focused on students’ enrollment needs.

Please send any inquiries to me at vpss@nmsu.edu.

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