Maryville College appoints Brie Kalivas as the new director of the Office of Financial Aid
Oct. 13, 2023
Brie Kalivas remembers well the intimidation and uncertainty of navigating the financial aid process as a new student at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Making it less so for the students of Maryville College, she said, is one of her biggest priorities as the newly appointed director of the Office of Financial Aid.
“Financial aid can certainly feel daunting, but that’s why we are here to help,” Kalivas said. “I remember when I was a new student at Eckerd College and feeling a bit overwhelmed about it all. As an adult and having worked in the bursar’s and financial aid offices at my previous institution for more than 15 years, my focus has always been on making information as transparent as possible for all students and their families.”
Kalivas comes to MC from her alma mater, from which she graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree. The month she claimed her diploma in environmental biology and business management, she went to work as an institutional loan administrator for Eckerd, a position she held for three years. After a brief sojourn to Massachusetts, she returned to Eckerd in 2010, serving in a variety of positions at the similarly sized private liberal arts college, most recently as the assistant director of financial aid.
“My husband and I bought land in Maryville back in 2021, and I knew after my first visit to the area that I wanted it to be our forever home,” she said. “I had visited the Maryville College campus several times, reveling in the historic buildings and beautiful mountain views. When I received the notification that the College was looking for a financial aid director, I knew I had to jump at the chance to join the community.
“Interviewing for the position, the conversation flowed effortlessly as if we were having a conversation as colleagues. It was a perfect fit. The values and concept of ‘doing good’ at Maryville College rings true to how I live my life on a day-to-day basis. I knew that I wanted to live and thrive in this community and hopefully make the financial aid world less intimidating.”
Her responsibilities in the position include the management and supervision of all financial aid processes, including the awarding of student loans, grants, Tennessee Educational Lottery scholarships and scholarship packages for new and returning students; development of student costs of attendance; and overseeing all administrative functions of the Financial Aid Office. She will develop and direct financial aid strategies within the framework of federal and state regulations that are consistent with the enrollment objectives of the College and work closely with Dr. Alayne Bowman, vice president of Admissions and Financial Aid.
“We knew, when the directorship came open, that we had to find a candidate who not only met the qualifications for the job but understood the nuances of helping students at a small, private liberal arts college navigate that process,” Bowman said. “Brie’s background at Eckerd College and her work in its financial aid office make her the perfect fit for Maryville College. Her efficiency is matched only by her warmth and friendliness, and I believe our students will find her office a more welcoming place than ever.”
“We welcome MC students to stop by our office and say hi (and grab some candy!) so we can get to know them better and help them through the financial aid process from start to finish,” Kalivas added. “I always say, ‘Don’t let the process intimidate you, because we are here to support and guide students every step of the way.’
“For me, the joy of financial aid is connecting with the students. Finance in general can be an uncomfortable topic, but our financial aid team at MC is here to break that barrier down and make it as student-friendly as possible.”