Maryland Higher Education Commission

July 2007 Press Release

 

 

 

DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE FOR MHEC NAMED

Elizabeth Urbanski brings 17 years of Financial Aid Experience

 

 

Annapolis, MD (July 9, 2007) – Elizabeth Urbanski has been named Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance for the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). The announcement was made by Dr. James E. Lyons, Sr., Secretary of Higher Education. Ms. Urbanski has been serving as Acting Director since September, 2006 and is responsible for providing oversight and management for 22 financial aid programs totaling almost $110 million. Prior to that, she served as the Associate Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

“Ms. Urbanski has demonstrated through her more than 17 years of service to the students of Maryland that she has the interest of our citizens at heart,” said Dr. Lyons. “I am very pleased that she has agreed to continue to use her talents to benefit the higher education community.”

In 2001 Ms. Urbanski joined MHEC as a consultant to test the release of new software. She was hired fulltime within three months as the Operations Administrator, directing day-to-day technical operations for the financial aid systems.

Ms. Urbanski also served as the Assistant Director of Systems and Operations for the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Financial Aid and Systems Counselor for the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Maryland College Park.

Ms. Urbanski serves on several committees of the DE-DC-MD Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ASFAA) and chairs the Organization and Governance committee. She is a member of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as advocate for more than 300,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.