Cindy deffenbaugh
Meet
A conversation with Richmond’s director of financial aid
A
s 2010 came to a close, Cynthia Bolger deffenbaugh, W’80 and GB’88, Richmond’s director of financial aid, sat down with Karl Rhodes, the magazine’s editor, to talk about the University’s financial aid process. Cindy has worked in Richmond’s financial aid office for more than 30 years—beginning as a student assistant during her sophomore year and becoming director of financial aid in 1995. during that time, she has seen enormous changes in financial aid programs and policies at the national level and has been an important voice in these conversations at Richmond. Cindy says the highlight of her career was the University’s decision in 2002 to meet 100 percent of the demonstrated need of Richmond’s traditional undergraduates. “That meant a great deal to me because it opened the door for a Richmond education to all admitted students regardless of their ability to finance their education,” she recalls. The University invests substantial resources in finan-
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cial aid—$64 million this year alone—to ensure that each undergraduate student who earns admission to Richmond can afford to attend the University. Cindy and her staff work many long hours—especially from February through September—reviewing applications for financial aid and preparing financial aid packages for each eligible student. When she takes a break from her duties at Richmond, Cindy enjoys fishing, gardening, and spoiling Jeb and Katie, her labrador retrievers. her favorite books are: Charlotte’s Web, Angle of Repose, White Fang, The Shipping News, and any cookbook by James Beard or Julia Child. her idea of a perfect day is drifting down the James River in a canoe—catching more fish, and bigger fish, than her husband, Scott. Cindy is full of fish stories, but when it comes to attracting top students to Richmond, she is determined that a student’s financial constraints should never be the reason for “the one that got away.”
3/2/11 11:37 AM