Heather Taylor will serve as director of student aid at Arkansas Tech University effective Thursday, May 2.
Taylor has served as ATU associate director of student aid since 2017 and has worked in the ATU Office of Financial Aid since 2002.
Her promotion was announced by Brittny Daubenheyer, ATU assistant vice president for student affairs in enrollment management.
“Heather brings twenty-two years of financial aid experience and thirteen years of supervisory experience to her new role as director of student aid,” said Daubenheyer. “She has been pivotal in helping ATU prepare for and execute the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the ‘Better FAFSA.’ In a normal processing year, the FAFSA is released on October 1. This year, the FAFSA wasn’t released until December 30. Despite numerous setbacks, frustrations and challenges surrounding this year’s FAFSA, Heather has remained a steadfast and dependable leader for the ATU Office of Financial Aid. She is more than qualified to serve as its new director.”
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and a Master of Science degree in college student personnel from Arkansas Tech. She has earned a position on the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Credential Earners Honor Roll for direct loans, professional judgment, cost of attendance, consumer information, satisfactory academic progress, return of Title IV funds and verification.
A graduate of Leadership Tech, Taylor has served the ATU community on committees related to satisfactory academic progress, scholarship appeals and diversity and inclusion. She is a past member of the ATU Staff Senate.
Taylor will succeed Niki Schwartz, who is resigning effective Wednesday, May 1, to pursue other opportunities. Schwartz has worked in the ATU Office of Financial Aid since 1998. She has served as director of student aid since 2016.
A farewell reception for Schwartz is scheduled for 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the ATU Office of Admissions tour room on the first floor of Dr. Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall.
