Sponsor spotlight Student-centered Edmonds College Financial Aid department is lowering barriers, driving successful outcomes

Edmonds College's Financial Aid department has effectively transformed its services to enhance student access to education. Under the leadership of Executive Director Alicia Mallahan and Associate Director Dane Olaso, the team navigated significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to new software systems. They adopted a service model prioritizing individualized student support, which has fostered trust and rapport during uncertain times. The department's outreach initiatives include bi-weekly financial aid workshops and multilingual sessions in local high schools. A notable equity initiative involves conducting workshops at the Monroe Correctional Facility to assist incarcerated individuals with educational opportunities.

The National College Attainment Network reports that only 45. 6% of Washington seniors completed FAFSA, ranking the state 47th nationally. This statistic has raised concerns among state officials about potential workforce shortages. By actively engaging with the community, Edmonds College aims to improve FAFSA completion rates and support students regardless of their chosen institution.