Cindy Kohlman, FAAC®

Cindy is the Director of Client Engagement. In this role, she supports clients with innovative expertise to help them discover solutions to their most pressing challenges. She assists with strengthening their financial aid and student business office operations, optimizing enrollment, and enriching the student experience. She onboard new clients, fostering the relationship to build trust and accountability to ensure an excellent client experience, resulting in successful outcomes. Cindy also represents FAS at industry conferences.

Cindy has over 25 years of student financial aid experience in both four-year public and four-year private institutions. Additionally, she spent a decade in financial aid management product development, as a consultant specializing in creating efficient, customer-focused operations and educational lending. Cindy came to Financial Aid Services (FAS) in 2022 and worked as an independent consultant supporting financial aid offices across the country by providing Interim Staffing, Consulting, and Assessment services to improve business processes, strengthen compliance efforts and enhance student satisfaction.

Her previous experience includes tenure as Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Financial Aid at the University at Buffalo, the flagship institution of the State University of New York (SUNY). She also served as the Director of Operations and Client Services at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Cindy is experienced with several financial aid software systems, including Ellucian Banner, Oracle PeopleSoft, and the U.S. Department of Education’s suite of applications. She has expertise in two major software implementations. Cindy served on the campus Steering Committee and as the financial aid module lead on a Banner implementation and was a member of a PeopleSoft implementation team.

Cindy has held leadership positions in state professional organizations including the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA) as a member of the Executive Council and serving as Vice President for the State University of New York Financial Aid Professionals, Inc. (SUNYFAP). She has received service awards from the Eastern Association Student Financial Aid Administrators (EASFAA), NYSFAAA, and SUNYFAP. Cindy is also a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

Cindy received her Bachelor of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts from State University of New York (SUNY) College at Brockport.