Lisa Fran Banfield

Lisa Fran Banfield is a senior financial aid consultant with 28 years of experience in higher education, specializing in Title IV compliance, operational leadership, and staff training. She has held progressive leadership roles at some of the nation’s most complex and mission-driven institutions, including Senior Director of Student Financial Services at The Cooper Union and multiple senior roles over 17 years at The New School, where she served as Interim Senior Director, Director of Client Services, Associate Director, and Assistant Director of Financial Aid. Her earlier experience includes leadership and administrative roles at Columbia University, Hofstra University, and Long Island University.

Lisa brings deep expertise across core financial aid functions, including verification, Return to Title IV (R2T4), reconciliation, packaging, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as well as federal compliance and regulatory reporting for FISAP, IPEDS, and eApps. She has administered and overseen Pell Grants, SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Direct Loans, endowed funds, and New York State aid programs, consistently maintaining audit readiness in high-stakes regulatory environments.

She is widely recognized for her ability to translate complex federal regulations into clear, actionable operational practices. As the primary trainer and functional lead in her offices, Lisa developed comprehensive onboarding and training programs, mentored senior leadership on complex compliance areas, and transformed policy manuals into practical tools that supported accuracy, efficiency, and confidence across teams. Her training focus has consistently centered on the most compliance-sensitive processes, including R2T4, campus-based programs, cash management, and endowed fund administration.

Lisa is proficient in Banner and Colleague and has worked closely with Admissions, Registrar, Advancement, and Student Accounts teams to ensure alignment across enrollment, finance, and compliance functions.

She holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from The New School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Long Island University. She also holds NASFAA credentials in Campus-Based Programs, Cash Management, and the Direct Loan Program, and has completed leadership development programs through Blue Icon and The New School’s Emerging Leaders Program. Lisa is an active member of NASFAA, EASFAA, and NYSFAAA.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, and traveling.