Meet Carmen Irizarry

Financial Aid Awareness Month

For many students, the path to college begins not in a classroom, but with a question: How am I going to pay for this? At Reynolds Community College, Carmen Irizarry helps answer that question every day. As Director of Financial Aid, Carmen plays a critical role in ensuring students have access to the resources they need to enroll, persist, and complete their educational goals—work that takes on special significance during Financial Aid Awareness Month.

Carmen oversees the administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs that support student access, affordability, and success. Her responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements, stewarding public funds responsibly, and collaborating closely with academic, enrollment, and student support teams across the college. At the core of her work is a commitment to removing financial barriers so students can focus on learning, completing their programs, and preparing for meaningful careers.

She joined Reynolds last fall, drawn by the college’s mission of open access and workforce development. Having worked previously at institutions with significantly higher costs of attendance, Carmen was motivated to serve at a community college where affordability is central. “Community colleges prepare students for careers while making education achievable,” she says. “At Reynolds, you see a genuine commitment to grants, scholarships, and opportunities that help students succeed without taking on unnecessary debt.”

A native of Puerto Rico, Carmen is bilingual in Spanish and English and brings both professional expertise and deep empathy to her role. As we celebrate Financial Aid Awareness Month this month—and throughout the year—her work ensures that more Reynolds students can move forward with confidence, clarity, and support.

The Financial Aid Office serves prospective, current, and returning students by guiding them through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, determining eligibility, awarding aid, and providing financial counseling. The department also collaborates with advising, external partners, and nonprofit organizations, and supports work-study opportunities that often provide students with their first job experience. Together, the team helps students build clear financial plans that make college possible.

While students often interact with the office at the front counter or online, much of Carmen’s work happens behind the scenes. She has a strong passion for problem-solving and continuous improvement, regularly analyzing processes to make systems more efficient and student-friendly. As a leader, she emphasizes collaboration and professional growth among her staff—financial aid specialists, technicians, and coordinators—so they can better serve students. Even when she’s not the one speaking directly with a student, she’s often working with her team to identify solutions and ensure no opportunity for support is overlooked.

The impact of financial aid extends far beyond the office. By reducing financial stress, Carmen says, the department helps students stay enrolled and move closer to graduation—outcomes that ripple outward to families, employers, and the broader community. “When students complete their education, they’re better positioned to enter the workforce and support their families,” she explains. “Financial aid is a key part of promoting equity and long-term opportunity.”

Financial Aid Awareness Month highlights this essential work. For Carmen, the observance is about making financial aid less intimidating and more transparent. Whether she’s explaining eligibility, helping students understand award letters, or encouraging early FAFSA completion, her focus is on reducing confusion and empowering students to make informed decisions. The month also provides an opportunity to proactively share resources and remind students they are not navigating the process alone.

Carmen believes financial aid awareness matters to everyone connected to higher education. For students, it demystifies a complex process. For employees, it builds a shared understanding of how financial aid supports retention, equity, and student success. For the broader community, it highlights how access to education fuels workforce development and economic mobility.

What motivates Carmen most is seeing the difference her work makes in individual lives. She describes the first step toward college as the hardest—and often the most meaningful. Helping someone find the resources to pursue a degree or certificate is deeply rewarding. “I love seeing people graduate,” she says. “Education creates opportunity, and being part of that process is powerful.”
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To learn more about Financial Aid at Reynolds, visit our website.