UB names John Gottardy director of financial aid

BUFFALO, N.Y. – John Gottardy, director of operations in the Student Financial Aid office at The Ohio State University (OSU), has been named director of financial aid in the University at Buffalo Office of the Vice Provost for Enrollment. The announcement was made today by Lee H. Melvin, vice provost for enrollment.

Gottardy’s appointment begins Nov. 8.

Melvin said that Gottardy’s credentials and experience set him apart from a very accomplished group of candidates.

“John Gottardy is an outstanding higher education professional, with more than 25 years of experience, who has demonstrated forward-thinking ideas on the strategic management of valuable institutional funds to support enrollment, retention and graduation goals,” says Melvin.

At OSU, which has a semester enrollment of approximately 64,000 students, Gottardy directed all aspects of daily operations for the Student Financial Aid Office, and reengineered all business processes in an effort to increase service, improve efficiency and reduce costs. 

He was responsible for the awarding, disbursement and reconciliation of over $1 billion in federal, state and institutional funding in 2012.  He streamlined the university’s business processes, reducing the financial aid application processing time from 10 weeks to a turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours.

As UB’s financial aid director, Gottardy will provide leadership, oversee budgets, formulate and implement policies and procedures and develop strategic financial aid initiatives in conjunction with UB’s vice provost for enrollment to achieve the university’s recruitment and retention goals for undergraduate and graduate students.

He will lead, mentor, train and develop a staff of 41; award an aid budget in excess of $265 million annually, including a $14 million merit scholarship budget; develop new policies and procedures that enhance efficiency; and complete all required annual federal, state and institutional reports.

Seventy percent of UB’s 29,000 students receive financial aid.

Scott Weber, senior vice provost for academic affairs, said Gottardy will bring a wealth of valuable experience to UB’s financial aid business practices.

“In John Gottardy, we have identified an individual who is more than capable of balancing the management of the ever-increasing number of aid applicants with a keen understanding of the financial aid process and the importance of financial aid to students and families,” Weber said. “And most importantly, Gottardy has a proven record of providing outstanding service to students and their families.”

Prior to OSU, Gottardy served at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkson, Ga., Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., and Temple University.

He received his bachelor’s degree in business logistics from Pennsylvania State University.