Senior Assistant Director, Office of Financial Aid Dr. Wanda Pickens earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) from Mercer University in 2021. Wanda’s dissertation is entitled: Institutional Factors That Support and Impede Black Female Undergraduates at Predominantly White Institutions. The study addressed the deficient baccalaureate degree attainment of African American females, documented by a graduation rate of 45%, compared to a national average of 65% for all women. Using phenomenological methodology, Wanda’s study explored the academic, social, physical, emotional, psychological, and financial experiences of 11 Black female college alumnae who completed their bachelor’s degrees at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). Wanda currently serves as the Senior Assistant Director of Eligibility Determination & Program Management in the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) at the University of Georgia. Wanda leads her team in compliance and determination of student eligibility for state and federal financial aid programs. She is responsible for overseeing HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility, professional judgment appeals review, and the verification process. Wanda advocates for student success and works to ensure that financial aid resources propel the students' journey to degree completion. During the 2023-24 academic year, Wanda served on the GASFAA Executive Board as Chair of the Partner/Sponsorship Committee. She also served as GASFAA Secretary during the 2022-2023 academic year. Before starting UGA in December 2021, Wanda served four and a half years as the Director of Financial Aid at Toccoa Falls College and three years as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Brenau University. Wanda is originally from South Carolina and served sixteen years in Financial Aid at Southern Wesleyan University (Central, SC). She also served four and a half years as a Financial Aid Counselor/Veterans Coordinator at Tri-County Technical College (Pendleton, SC). Wanda's experience in working at various institutional types has helped her navigate and bring diverse perspectives to guide students and parents through the financial aid process. Wanda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (2000) and a Master's degree in Management(2008), both from Southern Wesleyan University. Wanda demonstrates strong professional leadership in higher education. She is passionate about serving students and serves to promote a premier post-secondary educational student experience.
