Jennifer Acosta Bennett

Experience

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  Walt Disney World

  May 1996 - Aug 1996

  College Program Quick Service Hostess

  • Participated in the Disney College Program under the Managing and Communicating track. • Worked in several quick service locations and attended weekly seminars on managing and communicating. • Assisted with budgeting and data entry for the area.• Trained new cast members on their job functions and cash handling. • Completed the program with a “Ducktorate” in Managing and Communicating from Disney University.

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  Wal-Staf Personnel Services

  Jan 1998 - Feb 1998

  Temporary Secretary

  • Worked for a temp agency performing office administration functions such as data entry, dispatch, filing, scheduling, and managing a switchboard.

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  Gainesville Sun

  Feb 1998 - Jun 2005

  Asst Customer Service Manager-Circulation

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office for departmental production and month end reports. Microsoft Access was used for updating and maintaining databases for five different publications. • Performed all human resource and payroll functions of staff.• Supervised and trained a staff of 7-10 for the circulation call center and switchboard.• Maintained The Gainesville Sun and Ocala Star Banner subscriber databases while handling all computer and database issues. • Maintained the database UF New York Times on campus subscriptions and Sunday Only Home Delivery.• Tracked all aspects of circulation collection and retention for The Gainesville Sun.• Prepared circulation reports and statistics for New York Times reporting. Show less

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  University of Florida - Division of Enrollment Management

  Jun 2005 - now

  • Supervise the Federal Verification, C Codes, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Transient Enrollment, Study Abroad Enrollment, Return of Title IV, Student Employment, Professional Judgment, and Cost of Attendance Petitions.• An extensive comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and university financial aid policies and regulations along with institutional human resources policies and procedures as well as payroll processing.• Analyzing applications and related data for efficiency and compliance through updating and implementing changes to policies and procedures.• Preparation of reports and statistics to upper management for auditing and research purposes.• Continuous collaboration with the UF International Center, Academic Advising, Transfer Admissions, and Miami Dade College’s New World School of the Arts program.• Management of the Gator Engineering and Gator Design and Construction joint degree programs. • Participation in financial aid organizations such as a FASFAA Leadership Education for Association Professionals (LEAP) Mentor, FASFAA Strategic Planning Committee as a facilitator, NASFAA Leadership Conference on Compliance Management, member of the Federal Student Aid 2021 Partner Experience Council and financial aid lobbying.• Creating and presenting at outreach events to high school students and for internal training. Tabling at events such as the UF Study Abroad Fair and the FASFAA Extravaganza. identification of eligible students, packaging, transient processing, collaboration with Santa Fe College and State College of Florida and acting as the main point of contact for the university. • Worked closely with ProEd and other members of leadership to create and implement a new Federal Verification process, and conversion of forms and petitions to an electronic format and continue to be a main point of contact for ProEd issues.• Worked with IT on the creation and system implementation of UF’s early adoption of the year-round Federal Pell Grant. Show less • Supervision of day-to-day operations for the Verification, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Transients, Awarding and Pell Grant areas of Student Financial Affairs. Also assisting the Study Abroad Adviser when needed. • Managed a team of four.• An extensive comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and university financial aid policies and regulations was required with specific relation to the Federal Grant, Quality Assurance Verification, Federal Verification, Needs Analysis, Petition Procedures, Packaging Policies, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Transients and Manual Awarding sections within the department. • Analyzed applications and related data with regards to screens, keys, forms, and specs for each program supervised on a regular basis in the Eagle system. • Oversaw the Federal Pell Grant program from awarding through reconciliation. Served as a main point of contact for other schools and the Department of Education for the Federal Pell Grant program at the University of Florida.• Creation and maintenance of policies and procedures manuals was required for each area that was supervised. • Responsible for the hiring and non-renewal of employees as well as performed time approvals and monitoring for all staff within the areas supervised including Student Assistants. Show less • Counseled students in determining individual aid needs and awards. Manually awarded students based upon federal, state, and institutional program guidelines using Eagle and PeopleSoft. • Determined adjustments to student budgets. Prepared files and led committees for professional judgment petitions. Maintained statistics on all professional judgment petitions. • Chaired and participated in various committees for determining Student Financial Affairs practices. • Supervised one financial aid adviser. • Acted as the Interim Webmaster maintaining Facebook, Twitter and SFA website for the department. Created and maintained the internal Adviser and Verification websites using WordPress. Helped to establish the department’s Facebook page and recorded podcasts when needed. Show less

  • Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Assistant Director

    Jun 2016 - now

  • Student Financial Affairs Coordinator 3

    May 2014 - Jun 2016

  • Financial Aid Adviser

    Sept 2006 - May 2014

  • Senior Secretary

    Jun 2005 - Sept 2006