Dr. Wanda Pickens currently serves as the Senior Assistant Director of Eligibility Determination & Program Management at the University of Georgia. In this role, she manages and coordinates determinations of student eligibility for federal and state financial aid programs. Wanda is responsible for overseeing HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility and other state aid scholarship programs, professional judgment appeals review, and the verification process. Wanda currently serves on the GASFAA Executive Board as Chair of the Partner/Sponsorship Committee. She served as secretary during the 2022-2023 academic year. Wanda's career in Financial Aid spans nearly 30 years. Before working at UGA, Wanda served as the Director of Financial Aid at Toccoa Falls College and as the Assistant Director at Brenau University. Wanda is originally from South Carolina and served 16 years in Financial Aid at Southern Wesleyan University (Central, SC). She also served as Financial Aid Counselor/Veterans Coordinator at Tri-County Technical College (Pendleton, SC). Wanda's experience from working at various institutional types has helped her navigate and bring diverse perspective to student financial aid matters. Wanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Management, both from Southern Wesleyan University. In 2021, she earned her Doctorate in Higher Educational Leadership from Mercer University (Atlanta, GA). Wanda demonstrates strong professional leadership in higher education. She is passionate about serving students and serves to promote the best possible student financial aid experience. On May 28th, Wanda and her husband will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary by taking their first Caribbean cruise!