Tina Phifer (she/her/hers) is the senior assistant director of scholarships in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, where she has been working to help students navigate the process of paying for college since 2015. Tina is originally from California but has worked in Washington state, Hawaii, and Michigan in various roles supporting youth and young adults.

As a first-generation college student, she remembers the struggles of navigating higher education, especially when it comes to the financial commitment. During her undergraduate work at Humboldt State University, she became heavily involved in advocacy and volunteerism, which still drives her work today. She recently earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and a certificate in teaching adult learners from Portland State University’s College of Education, in hopes of finding better ways to communicate with all students. When she’s not working, she loves camping, hiking, reading, watching TV, and spending time with her family and pets.