Inside Financial Aid: Strategy, Access, and the Future for Small Colleges
Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of Augustana College.
Kent: Joining us today is Maximo Flint-Morgan, MBA, who serves as Director of Financial Aid at Le Moyne College, a private Jesuit institution in Syracuse, New York, where he has led the financial aid office within the Division of Enrollment Management since February 2021. A Syracuse-area professional with a broad background spanning higher education, nonprofit work, and business, Maximo previously served as Associate Director of Financial Aid at Syracuse University, where he developed and managed comprehensive communications strategies for financial aid services.
Deeply committed to the profession, he is an active contributor to the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association, supporting training and professional development for aid officers across the state. He is also a frequent speaker to students and families, offering practical guidance on FAFSA completion, scholarships, and financial planning.
Outside the office, Maximo is a devoted dad with a passion for soccer and world music. Welcome to the show, Maximo.
Question 1: Finding the Path — Career Journey & Role Today
Dean: Maximo, your path to financial aid wasn't exactly a straight line — how did you first find your way into this work? And give us a sense of what your role looks like today at Le Moyne.
Question 2: Beyond the Paperwork — What Financial Aid Really Is
Kent: When families think of 'financial aid,' they often think of paperwork. What are they missing about the actual work your office does?
Question 3: Mission vs. Market — Aid Strategy at a Jesuit College
Dean: Le Moyne is a private Jesuit institution with a commitment to access, but financial aid today is also deeply strategic. How much of what your office does is formula versus strategy?
Question 4: FAFSA, Federal Policy & the Turbulence of Change
Kent: FAFSA has been through significant turbulence in recent years. From your seat at a small private college, what's working, and what's not?
Question 5: Student Mindset & Practical Advice for Families
Dean: Are today's students and families approaching college financing differently than even five years ago, and if you were sitting across from a family with a high school junior right now, what are the two or three things you'd tell them to do today?
Possible Follow-up: How should families think about borrowing responsibly? Is there a way to reframe student loans that you find resonates with families?
Question 6: Closing — The Future Question
Kent: Looking out five to ten years, with demographic shifts, the FAFSA's evolution, growing skepticism about the value of a college degree, and the financial pressures facing private institutions, how do you see the future of financial aid unfolding? And what role do small private colleges like Le Moyne play in that future?
Closing
Dean: Maximo, this conversation is a reminder that behind every financial aid office is someone who genuinely cares whether students get to the starting line. Thank you for your candor, your expertise, and for the work you do at Le Moyne every day."
For those listening or viewing, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our web page at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover. Also, I encourage you to subscribe to our series on your favorite podcast network,
This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Edu Alliance Group — a higher education consulting firm that champions small colleges and the communities they serve.And if your college or university is involved in podcasting, be sure to check out HigherEd PodCon, coming to Cleveland, Ohio, on July 16th and 17th. It's a wonderful opportunity for professional development and networking with others doing this work in higher education. Visit www.higheredpodcon.com for details.
On behalf of our guest, Maximo Flint-Morgan, my co-host Kent Barnds, and I, thank you for joining us.
