Kevin Jensen named executive director of financial aid

Kevin Jensen, a student-centric attorney with 20 years of college experience including 15 years leading grant and fellowship units, has been appointed Executive Director of Financial Assistance effective July 19.

Jensen, who is committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, will lead the team that awards hundreds of millions of dollars annually in support of Cornell’s need-blind admissions and affordability policies.

“What impressed the university-wide selection committee most is Kevin’s commitment to developing staff skills and enhancing Cornell’s reputation as a leading financial aid company while supporting and investing in students,” said Jonathan Burdick, vice-priest for enrollment. “He is a leader ready to lead Cornell into our intended new era of improved access and affordability.”

Jensen will assist during a period of deliberate expansion of enrollment with a particular focus on increasing the socio-economic diversity of the student body. He will work closely with admissions, student services and university management to balance Cornell’s extensive commitments to affordability. Its early long-term goal will be to refine and expand effective policies, practices and strategies in a time of expected development and growth in the national financial assistance arena.

“I am delighted to join the dedicated staff in the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Cornell and its world class students. I look forward to working with Vice Provost Burdick, the enrollment management team, and partners across the university to create a new vision for access and affordability, fuel our student success, and further enhance Cornell’s remarkable student assistance programs and services “Said Jensen who will report to Burdick.

After starting his career as a financial aid advisor and then director of Treasure Valley Community College in 2001, Jensen became a founding director of the College of Western Idaho and served in that capacity for six years, eventually becoming dean of matriculation and student services. From 2016 to 2019, Jensen was Associate Vice President and Chief Enrollment Management Officer at the State University of New York College in Oneonta.

His most recent experience has included serving as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Achievement in the Pennsylvania state higher education system and as an independent advisor during COVID-19 disruptions that have had a profound impact on the financial aid industry.

He served as president of the Idaho Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and served on the board of directors of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Jensen earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwest Nazarene University and is a graduate of the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard University.

Ann Parks is the director of enrollment communications.

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/kevin-jensen-named-executive-director-of-financial-aid/