On June 23, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships announced Chio Flores will take over as the director of the department on July 1.

Flores has worked in the financial aid office since 1994. Before that she held a position in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships with Eastern Washington University. Flores is also a graduate of EWU, where she received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration.

The responsibilities of the director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships include delivering $220 million in institutional and scholarship aid to about 16,000 students, Flores said.

Managing a staff and making sure the department operates within its budget are also some of her responsibilities.

“I provide leadership and have oversight of a staff of approximately 23 permanent staff including several more part-time graduate and undergraduate students and the management of an operating budget of approximately $1.2 million,” Flores said.

With the retirement of Wayne Sparks, the former director of financial aid, Flores was named associate director of the department in 2001 and became acting director in 2008. She will take over the duties of Sparks, who has held the position since January 1996.

“I’ve worked with her for my entire 13 years here,” Sparks said. “She’s very dedicated to addressing the needs of students. She works well with staff and motivating staff and I’m extremely pleased she will be serving as director.” Flores said her experience in financial aid has prepared her well for the director position and her history qualifies her to take on the duties.

“Prior to WSU, I had over six years experience working in financial aid at Eastern Washington University and six years of admission and registrar experience at Big Bend Community College,” she said.

Sparks said he became confident in Flores’ abilities when he was forced to take a leave of absence from the department for an injury. During this period, he said the office faced many challenges.

“She served in the role of the director and on a day-to-day basis she ran the office and demonstrated she could run the office,” he said.

Sparks said after a long run with the university, it was his turn to retire and pass the duties on to Flores.

“Well, I’m 65,” he said. “I’ve been with WSU for 13 years. It’s time to hang it up and let some of the younger people like Chio take over and she’s a very capable individual.” Sparks said though there are no serious issues Flores will face, challenges will come during her time as director.

“The challenges are providing financial aid assistance to students to overcome tuition increases of 14 percent this fall and another 14 percent next fall,” he said. “With the state economy, more and more students and parents are seeking financial aid.” Flores said she expects to encounter challenges as director and looks forward to addressing them.

“In a time of an unprecedented economic downturn, more needy families, increased tuition and costs, our services will be in much greater demand,” she said. “Our office will strive toward providing the same quality service at the same or less staffing levels while we engage in finding new ways to meet our students’ and families’ needs.”