Faith Phillips, director of student financial services at COTC, has been recognized by a statewide organization for her work connecting students with financial aid resources.
A 24-year employee of Central Ohio Technical College, Faith Phillips was recently named the recipient of the Alex Murdoch Service Award, presented by Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA). A peer-nominated award, the Alex Murdoch Service Award recognizes college staff in Ohio for their ability to connect students to financial aid resources. According to her peers in OASFAA and administrators at COTC, Phillips excels in her role of director of student financial services, reaching both current and prospective students through presentations at high schools, mentoring of other staff, and staying student-focused. Phillips also serves as director of student financial services at Ohio State University at Newark.
A news release from COTC profiles Phillips and her legacy at both colleges and in her work with OASFAA. One unnamed OASFAA colleague cited Phillips' leadership, saying, "Through her leadership at COTC [and Ohio State Newark] she has mentored many of her staff that have gone on to leadership roles at other institutions and many have held leadership positions in OASFAA. At least two people that started in financial aid under her went on to become OASFAA President themselves. Faith has found the perfect intersection of using all that OASFAA has to offer to build up her staff, and her current and former staff have gone on to build up OASFAA."
David Brillhart, COTC vice president and director of business and finance at Ohio State Newark, said of Phillips, "I am so pleased that Faith received this award from OASFAA, but I am not surprised in the least. Over her career, she has consistently shown a tremendous commitment first to students but also to her profession. Both COTC and Ohio State Newark have benefited greatly from having Faith on our team."
Phillips began working for COTC in 1997, with what the college called a "student-centric focus" that she has maintained throughout her career. Phillips shared her reaction to receiving the award by saying, "To be recognized by Andrea Morrow, the current president of OASFAA, with the Alex Murdoch Service Award was a surprise and huge honor. I firmly believe in the mission of OASFAA which is why I have been so dedicated in my service. To receive this distinguished award is an even greater honor because I personally knew Alex and couldn't agree more with OASFAA's decision to recognize his contributions and outstanding service."
The Alex Murdoch Service Award, established in 1999, honors Associate Director of Financial Aid at University of Cincinnati, Alex Murdoch, upon his retirement.