Melodie Jackson

Melodie Jackson is an independent financial aid consultant with 30 years of experience in financial aid compliance, operational leadership, and staff development across private higher education institutions.

She has served in senior leadership roles including Director of Financial Aid at Notre Dame of Maryland University and Senior Director of Financial Aid at Elizabethtown College, advancing from frontline counseling positions to executive-level leadership. Throughout her career, Melodie has led complex financial aid operations while mentoring teams and strengthening institutional compliance frameworks.

Her expertise includes verification, Return to Title IV (R2T4), reconciliation, packaging, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), along with extensive experience in federal and state compliance and reporting, including FISAP, IPEDS, eApps, and NCAA Division III financial aid reporting. She has overseen a wide range of aid programs, including federal and private loans, campus-based aid, and state grant programs.

Melodie brings strong systems experience with Colleague, PowerFAIDS, and Jenzabar, and is known for her ability to train and develop high-performing financial aid teams, translating regulatory requirements into clear, operational practice.

She has partnered closely with Admissions, Registrar, Advancement, Student Services, Finance, and Institutional Research teams to align compliance, enrollment strategy, and student support.

Melodie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from York College of Pennsylvania and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Higher Education at Purdue University Global. She is an active member of DE-DC-MD ASFAA, PASFAA, EASFAA, and NASFAA, and brings a steady, mentorship-focused approach to her consulting work.