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Candace Umberger Announced as New District Director of Financial Aid

by Sarah Smith

Senatobia, MS (06/14/2023) — Northwest Mississippi Community College has announced its new district director of Financial Aid, Northwest 2007 graduate and University of Mississippi 2021 business graduate Candace Umberger of Senatobia. With over 15 years of experience, she's ready to take on this new opportunity.

"I started as a receptionist," Umberger said. "I was a sponge eager to learn and move to a different role. I had great leaders who pushed me to excel by giving me opportunities to learn and grow."

Umberger was introduced to financial aid in 2005 as a work-study at Northwest. It was there she said that she learned the "vital role" financial aid played in a student's ability to attend college. Then in 2008, she started at Northwest as a full-time employee working as the financial aid receptionist and data entry clerk.

Leaders above her were an inspiration, Umberger said. This position has been her goal for two years now. She looks forward to leading a great team and reciprocating what leaders had provided for her in the past: an opportunity to grow and learn.

In 2020, Umberger said the department implemented a new program called the Student Financial Planning System (SFP) which brought to light new possibilities to enhance the student experience, and the department plans to expand use of the system as a tool for students receiving financial aid. Her team is also working on creating a training course on Canvas for new Financial Aid Office hires as well as a refresher course for current employees.

Outside of work, Umberger enjoys spending time with friends and family, hanging out at the pool, and reading poetry.

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Headshot of Candace Umberger, by Alyssa Pirani

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