WASHINGTON – Howard University today announced the appointment of Robert T. Muhammad as the new Director of Financial Aid, effective August 31, 2020. In this role, he will be responsible for the effective management of financial aid resources and the administration of Federal Title IV. He will also oversee all administrative functions and institutional aid programs related to financial aid services for students, including student loans, financial aid, scholarships and student employment.

“With more than 20 years of progressive experience in financial aid services, Mr. Robert Muhammad has proven to be a results-driven and student-focused financial aid professional who has had much success in working with higher education institutions to determine the best financial aid practices,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tashi-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D. “He has also demonstrated throughout his career the ability to develop and implement effective financial aid processes and controls, streamline operations and increase fiscal efficiency while building and maintaining strong collaborative relationships across offices to improve enrollment management services and foster student financial success.”

Reporting directly to Anthony E. Jones, associate provost and assistant vice president of Enrollment Management, Muhammad will supervise as well as strategically plan, assign and evaluate the work of the Office of Financial Aid staff for effective operation and results of the unit.

Muhammad joins Howard University after serving as director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina since 2011, where he strategically led an 11-member student financial services team and was responsible for the long-range planning strategy and oversight of daily operations of the student-facing office. While at Winston-Salem State, he evaluated the existing Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid policies and programs, made substantial improvements and implemented new procedures to advance office effectiveness and efficiency. Muhammad's efforts resulted in an increased awarding of financial aid year-over-year, additional student financial aid opportunities, a higher financial aid verification completion rate and a significant increase in overall constituent satisfaction.

Before his tenure at Winston-Salem State, Muhammad served five years as associate director in the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). He managed, awarded and reconciled institutional endowed and non-endowed scholarships, NCAA scholarships, state grants, research grants and specialized aid programs, while effectively supervising a diverse administrative staff. Prior to this role, Muhammad held the position of assistant director in the Office of Student Financial Aid at UNC Charlotte from 2003-2006, where he managed various scholarships, grants and specialized programs. He began his impressive career in higher education working with the Upward Bound Program (Federal TRIO) and in Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C.

Muhammad earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from UNC Charlotte and a master of business administration from Winston-Salem State. He has served as a member on a variety of professional associations including the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA), Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA), the UNC Financial Aid Advisory Group and the Strategic Long Range Planning Committee, among others.

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