Editor’s Be aware: Duck of the week is a piece in Across the O Office that highlights UO workers and their jobs. Every story options an interview with an worker, in their very own phrases, with gentle enhancing for readability and size solely.

Jennifer bell

Affiliate Director for Consulting, Workplace of Scholar Monetary Support and Awards

How lengthy have you ever labored at UO?

I’ve been right here for 5 and a half years.

Inform us about your work:

I oversee the customer support side of our monetary assist providers, which incorporates the recommendation we offer along with the monetary assist name heart. When present college students, mother and father, or potential candidates name with questions, I oversee the group that addresses these issues. I’m additionally in command of elevating consciousness of monetary assist in addition to the model new Monetary wellness heart which was launched just about this 12 months as a consequence of COVID-19.

We acquired a really beneficiant donation from a pal at school who has contributed to a number of different large-scale initiatives like UEM, the Black Cultural Heart and Girls in Flight. He is keen about college students with mastery of finance, so he donated $ 3 million final 12 months to assist fund the on-campus Monetary Wellness Heart. In a non-COVID world, he would have launched himself someplace in EMU. The Monetary Wellness Heart affords one-on-one monetary teaching with one of many 20 college students on our employees. We prepare these college students to assist their friends create budgets and be taught extra about their credit score.

Our group runs no less than 5 workshops per time period on a wide range of totally different matters. These matters are related to college students and embrace points like paying off loans, finding out overseas, making ready for all times after school, defending your credit score and identification, amongst others. It is a complete service that tries to satisfy college students the place they’re and assist them be taught the abilities they should develop into financially literate adults. We get loads of suggestions from college students that they do not know a lot in regards to the loans they’ve borrowed, easy methods to construct credit score, and even easy methods to verify their credit score rating. The scholars acknowledged that this was an enormous want on campus, and we bought loads of good responses this 12 months.

What’s your typical day like?

Every little thing about monetary assist is a bit cyclical, so my day is pushed by different actions occurring at college. On the time of registration, many college students inquire about their monetary assist to attempt to rise up in order that they will register. We additionally work with many potential college students and their households to verify UO is an efficient match for them earlier than they resolve to attend. For probably the most half, nonetheless, my function is to coordinate the advisory and pupil employees in our workplace in order that we will serve our present and future college students as properly.

What do you want about working at UO?

I like the power on campus. Considered one of my favourite actions is working immediately with college students and their households. I notice that monetary assist might be overwhelming for a lot of college students and their households, and lots of have no idea the place to start out. One of many issues that I actually get pleasure from is bringing individuals from an area of unfamiliarity to a clearer place. The contact with the pupils and the mother and father is subsequently one thing that I actually admire.

What motivates you?

I’ve a extremely well-rounded group with a wide range of totally different expertise. On daily basis I’m amazed at how considerate, sensible and proficient they’re. I’m additionally impressed and motivated by the power of the scholars. Whereas most college students do not favor to go to varsity in at the moment’s setting, they nonetheless have spectacular attitudes and are enjoyable to speak to. There’s additionally loads of enthusiasm from new freshmen contemplating attending UO, and it provides me nice pleasure to be right here and play a component in that decision-making course of. I’ve a sense that monetary assist is one thing that may actually make a distinction to somebody. I actually really feel like I am serving to extra individuals than not, so that is what motivates me.

What would possibly individuals not learn about you?

One factor individuals may not learn about me is that I’m aggressive. I compete with myself and different individuals whether or not they realize it or not typically. It’d come right down to my exercise on the health club or one thing that I am making an attempt to do shortly. I actually prefer to exceed expectations so that is one thing that I actually attempt to focus my power on.

Jennifer Bell is a part of the Workplace of Scholar Monetary Support and Bursaries.

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