When I asked Terri Stephens if I could interview her for the RMASFAA Exchange, her first response was, “Well, I’m kind of boring.” But after a 45-minute phone conversation, I found her to be anything but boring. Those of you who do not know Terri really do need to get to know this terrific lady.

Terri’s official title at the Davis Applied Technology College is Financial Aid and Data Director. Not only is she responsible for the Financial Aid Office, she also directs all of the reporting for her school. Terri’s bachelor’s degree is in Information Technology and her Master’s Degree is in Public Administration. As the Director of Financial Aid, she manages three staff, mostly overseeing all financial aid administration and providing staff direction.

Terri began at DATC 21 years ago this July working in a special program for single parents and displaced homemakers and later working in placement. When a position in Financial Aid opened up, she initially wasn’t going to apply for the job, having what she calls “No understanding about financial aid at all.” DATC only had one financial aid technician at that time. She accepted the position as financial aid technician, and later became the Associate Director of Student Services. In moving to her current position, she retained many of the pieces she did as Associate Director of Student Services except for managing the customer service staff. Her current position focuses more attention on data, but DATC always keeps her in financial aid. Like so many of us, her position continues to evolve, and she calls DATC “a great place to work”. Terri interacts with the eight schools in Utah that are part of the Utah College of Applied Technology, and works with Mike Johnson to represent all of their financial aid issues at the state level.

Terri cites big things on their plates at DATC, such as currently trying to implement the new HERA regulations as a clock-hour school. She is really busy this time of year trying to address all of these new rules that affect clock-hour programs. Some of Terri’s greatest challenges are the regulations that are very specific to a model that is not necessarily how their school operates. Terri must balance trying to accommodate state law when it may be in complete conflict with federal law. She describes the US Department of Education offices in Denver as being really good about understanding these compliance challenges, and helping her with options and creative approaches.

Terri recently did a presentation for UASFAA on disbursing for clock-hours. Those in attendance were mostly small schools that, like DATC, don’t do loans because their operating characteristics are so unique. To prepare for her session, Terri spent lot of time researching things like disbursement timelines. She expressed relief that most people at her presentation were from schools she had some familiarity with. Terri fondly recalls a time when the RMASFAA Summer Institute used to give sessions for non-credit-hour schools, but realizes there are not many clock-hour schools left.

Terri is very active with Student Services, serving pretty much on every committee related to student records, leadership, and function. Her data role also keeps her active in her school’s accreditation processes. When I asked what else she does for DATC she said, “Pretty much anything they want me to.”

Terri’s involvement with RMASFAA has included serving as the Utah representative to the Board of Directors, and she is currently Training Committee Chair. While she personally may not be doing more for RMASFAA, Terri pushes her staff to be involved. She knows this is a challenge for small schools but she whole-heartedly tries to make sure everyone in her shop gets the opportunity. Connie, from Terri’s office, is a mentee in the Leadership Pipeline mentoring program. Donna Brown is Site Chair for Summer Institute this year, the first year for SI in Utah, and Danielle is attending SI as we speak. Terri’s ties to RMASFAA all began with Summer Institute 18 years ago, which she attended eleven years in a row. She sometimes sends up to three staff, and attends the annual fall conferences. When asked about RMASFAA, Terri calls it “the best association of all. It’s such an invaluable resource.” She sees the Utah Association as successful due to strengths drawn from RMASFAA as a mentor, operating on a smaller scale, but with the same kind of leadership. Terri firmly believes that without RMASFA, Utah wouldn’t be as strong as they are as a state association.

Terri is married to “a wonderful man”, and has “two awesome sons.” Her “baby” just got accepted into the doctorate of physical therapy program at the University of Utah, and is still living at home. (Terri says she will be old before her nest is empty, but that’s OK!) Her oldest son is a handsome bachelor living in Syracuse working at Lifetime Products as an Engineering Technician.

Terri likes to run. This year she is the race coordinator for two teams running the Wasatch Back Relay. The relay starts at Logan, Utah, crossing 175 miles of the backside of the Wasatch Range and ending in Park City. The race will last at least 28 hours, with each team member running 15-17 miles in three legs. Terri has participated for three years after being encouraged by one of her co-workers to sign up. This summer she plans on running her first half-marathon.

Terri has lived in Northern, Utah her whole life. In addition to running, she reads, crochets, and travels whenever she can manage a vacation.