By Victoria Durgin, Asst. Digital Media Editor
Justin Rummel started as Susquehanna’s new assistant vice president of Studnt Financial Services (SFS) on March 1.
Rummel will oversee the team responsible for the administration of all financial aid and student accounts payable, according to MySU.
The position also comes with the responsibility of providing current and prospective students with financial counseling and financing options, according to the Susquehanna website.
Rummel most recently served as the Financial Aid Director of Salisbury University in Maryland. He previously worked in the financial department of Strayer University as well.
Rummel began his career in politics. He worked in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for eight years as a research analyst for the Republican caucus.
According to MySU, he also worked for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency as a federal policy analyst.
Although Rummel has not worked with Susquehanna before, he says he is very familiar with the university.
Rummel grew up in central Pennsylvania, and earlier in his career, applied for a job at the university. Although he was not hired at the time, he says he has held respect for the university for years.
Rummel shared how he sometimes felt jealous of friends and colleagues who graduated and worked at Susquehanna.
“I always really looked up to Susquehanna,” he said.
His professional desire to work for the school was not the only motivating factor in his decision to work in the SFS office. He said family matters also factored into the decision to take on the position.
After the birth of their twins in November, both Rummel and his wife wanted to be closer to their parents, all residents of the area surrounding Susquehanna.
Professionally speaking, Rummel says he is also excited to work in the financial team at Susquehanna because he deeply values the liberal arts education.
“I’m really excited about the fact I’m working at a liberal arts college,” Rummel said.
Rummel noted that his own education at a liberal arts school brought him from a political science degree to an eventual career in university finances.
“I think this is the culmination of professional development over years,” Rummel said.
He said he is also excited to be able to work with students on making the liberal arts education financially feasible.
For Rummel, part of making it feasible means being available to students who have concerns or questions.
“I have always had an open-door policy, and that will continue,” Rummel said.
It also means being responsible with federal, state and school funds as they become available.
“I promise the office will be good stewards of institutional funds and also of grant money from governments,” Rummel said.
He also hopes students will have conversations with their families about financing school and will respond to his team’s emails or calls.
Rummel said he and his team at SFS will reach out to be helpful and not with the intention to scare students.
“We’re never going to come down on you, we’re only going to try to lift you up,” Rummel said about him and the team he will lead in his new role.
Rummel said he is excited to move his family back to the area he grew up in and is exited to work for Susquehanna.
He is currently working remotely from Maryland to allow his daughter to finish her school year out before moving to Pennsylvania.
The family plans to move to the area in mid-May, according to Rummel.
He says he looks forward to being on campus full-time and being able to meet with students in his office.