Alfred University announces the appointment of Tom Kendziora as its executive director of Financial Aid, effective June 1. Kendziora comes to Alfred University from his alma mater, St. Francis University in Loretto, PA, where he served in a number of roles for more than two decades, most recently as director of Financial Aid.
At St. Francis, Kendziora led the administration of the university’s $33 million financial aid program, which includes institutional scholarship and grants, federal grants, loans and work-study programs, state grants, private scholarships, and external loan programs. He had previously served St. Francis as assistant controller (2013-23); bursar (2004-13); and assistant director of the Annual Fund (2003-04).
“Tom has a solid record of achievement and experience in higher education financial aid. His leadership and guidance will help Alfred University better serve our students and their families while helping us meet and exceed our enrollment and retention goals,” said Christie Smith, vice president for Enrollment Management.
“Joining Alfred University at this pivotal time in higher education is a remarkable opportunity, and I am thrilled to get started,” Kendziora commented. “I look forward to partnering closely with leadership to align our financial aid strategies directly with the university’s institutional initiatives and enrollment goals.”
Kendziora earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting (concentration in finance) from St. Francis in 1993 and went on the earn his MBA, also from St. Francis, in 2010.
Prior to his tenure in higher education, Kendrioza spent several years in the financial services sector, including serving as assistant controller at Fleming Companies, Inc., in Altoona, PA, overseeing the firm’s accounting department; as manager of Mellon Bank in Erie, PA; and as assistant manager at Associates Financial Services Company in Ashtabula, OH.
Kendziora said he looks forward to working with Alfred’s Financial Aid staff and partnering with the entire university community to help make operations more efficient and effective in serving students.
“By utilizing data-driven leveraging models and continually evaluating our financial aid systems, we can improve our processes for even greater efficiency and effectiveness,” Kendziora said. “I am eager to mentor and develop our financial aid staff, foster a vibrant culture of collaboration across campus, and ensure we are proactively illustrating the shifting landscape of state and federal aid to our students and their families.”
