Daniel Barkowitz appointed dean of financial aid

Daniel T. Barkowitz has been appointed dean of financial aid at Columbia, according to an e-mail sent to students by Student Affairs Dean Kevin Shollenberger Friday afternoon.

The e-mail stated that Barkowitz’s post—set to begin on June 1—comes as part of Columbia’s efforts to provide financial aid guidance during a time of “economic uncertainty.”

Barkowitz’s arrival on campus will be the next phase of his over 20 years working in higher education, according to the e-mail, after his latest position as director of student financial aid and employment for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Read the full text of the e-mail below:

April 10, 2009

Dear Students,

Providing an affordable education to all students, regardless of their financial resources, has long been a priority at Columbia. From the time students apply to Columbia and continuing through graduation, we guide students through the complex and frequently misunderstood process of financing a college education. Financial Aid staff offer caring and confidential advice along with comprehensive, timely information about the various financing options available. In these times of economic uncertainty, this commitment to our students and their families becomes even more important.

With this in mind, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Daniel T. Barkowitz as Dean of Financial Aid/Associate Dean of Student Affairs, effective June 1, 2009. A financial aid professional with over twenty years of experience in higher education - most recently as Director of Student Financial Aid and Employment for MIT - he brings to Columbia a depth of experience and strategic planning skills in the areas of enrollment management and policy development. He is a nationally recognized leader in his field and has developed innovative ways of looking at need analysis. Under Dean Barkowitz’s leadership, the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing will continue to provide the kind of support Columbia students and their families need while at the same time developing new programs to enhance the services we provide. His knowledge, dedication and experience managing financial aid systems and processes, together with his understanding of financial aid policies, will serve our students well.

I hope you are as pleased as I am that Daniel Barkowitz will soon join the Columbia community.

Sincerely,

Kevin G. Shollenberger
Dean of Student Affairs Columbia College/The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Student Life
Arts and Sciences
Columbia University