WASHINGTON, D.C.—Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC is pleased to announce that Cynthia Grunden has joined the firm’s Education practice as a Financial Aid and Higher Education Specialist.
Cynthia has spent her career working in financial aid administration at private and public institutions, complex college systems, and outside consulting groups. At Powers, Cynthia will work with the education practice to provide guidance to clients on federal student financial aid rules, including student eligibility, institutional and program eligibility, the administration of the Title IV programs, and program reviews and compliance audits.
Prior to joining Powers, Cynthia was the Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services at Columbia College Chicago, a private, nonprofit college where she managed financial aid, student accounts, veteran services, and campus card services. She also managed an annual institutional scholarship budget of $50 million dollars in support of the institution’s enrollment management and diversity goals and developed and executed numerous Title IV compliance reviews for the institution. Prior to Columbia College, she served as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Financial Services for City Colleges of Chicago, the largest community college system in the State of Illinois, where she was responsible for the disbursement of more than $160 million dollars in financial aid and veteran benefits to the student body each year. Earlier in her career, Cynthia served in leadership positions in the financial aid offices of various institutions, including Harry S Truman College, National-Louis University, and San Diego Mesa College.
Cynthia earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership and organizational change from Roosevelt University, a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University, and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University.
“Powers is thrilled to have Cynthia join our education practice,” said Peter Thomas, Managing Partner of the firm. “Cynthia has years of direct experience working in financial aid administration at higher education institutions and her knowledge will be invaluable to our clients.”
Cynthia joins a nationally recognized and growing team of professionals in the Powers education practice, including principals Sherry Gray, Joel Rudnick, Sean Beller, Nick Michiels, and Dan Brozovic; Counsel Katie Demedis; Higher Education Specialist Sharon Bob; Associates Ryan Spraker, Taylor Dowd, Abby Felter; and Law Clerk Olivia O’Hea.
“Compliant federal student aid administration is a challenging, but essential part of every institution’s operations,” said Cynthia. “I look forward to assisting clients with navigating these complex regulations so that they may focus on educating students.”
Cynthia can be reached at Cynthia.Grunden@PowersLaw.com or 202-466-6550.
About the Powers Education Practice
The Powers education practice advises and guides educational institutions and other clients through the highly complex regulatory framework in which the education sector operates. Our education attorneys are nationally recognized for their expertise regarding federal laws applicable to institutions of higher education, including student financial aid regulations and accreditation and state licensure matters. They have vast experience assisting institutions in responding to program review and audit findings, and in defending institutions in accreditation proceedings. The team regularly represents clients in transactions in the higher education, K-12, and EdTech sectors. Powers clients include private nonprofit colleges and universities, public institutions of higher education, privately owned and publicly traded schools and school systems, Pre-K and secondary school systems, private equity firms, lenders, service providers, and others active in the education arena.
About Powers
Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville (Powers) is a Washington, DC-based law firm with national healthcare, education, government relations, Indian tribal governments and nonprofit practices. Powers attorneys and professionals are nationally known for their extensive expertise in their practice areas and their commitment to client service. For more information, follow us on Twitter at @PowersLawFirm or visit www.PowersLaw.com. If you wish to receive Power Play: Washington Week in Review®, our weekly healthcare newsletter, sign up here.
For more information, contact:
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