Faces – Patti Bowman

Nearly 75 percent of UNC Charlotte’s student population receives some form of financial aid. Veteran employee Patti Bowman understands the importance this support plays in the educational process, and she and her team are focused on delivering excellent customer service to students, their parents and colleagues across campus.

“I manage six assistant directors and two financial aid counselors, and we field all calls and emails about financial aid and respond to anyone who visits our office in person,” said Bowman, associate director of financial aid. “Inquiries could be related to how to apply to financial aid or what happens with aid when a student withdraws.”

During her 15-year tenure at UNC Charlotte, Bowman has seen a number of changes. For nearly 12 years, she managed the University’s student loan program, which has grown from $41 million to more than $130 million. She also has witnessed the benefits of technological innovations.

“When I first started, we employed about 10 work-study students who helped file all the paperwork associated with financial aid. Now, we have just three work-study students,” Bowman explained. “At one time, every student received physical award letters and mailings every time a change was completed. Today, the entire process is digital. Our students log into myuncc.edu and use the financial aid portal for information.”

While progress has transformed how the financial aid process works, Bowman said the most rewarding aspect of the job continues to be the pleasure she derives from helping students.

“We’re all committed to providing assistance to the kids; we see them throughout their time here, and we watch them grow,” stated Bowman. “One student in particular comes to mind. I met him and his father at orientation. This father was concerned for his son who is autistic; he had been told the boy wouldn’t be able to achieve what others could. From that initial meeting, I was that student’s point of contact whenever he needed help, whether it was financial aid, housing or whatever. He graduated and went on to earn a master’s degree at another university, and he and the father came back and thanked me for the impact that I had on their lives.”

Of course, sometimes Bowman has to be the bearer of bad news, too, for students who are struggling academically. “I advise them as I would my own children that perhaps they need to explore other options rather than go deeper into debt.”

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Bowman earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Niagara University. “It’s a beautiful campus – most every day you can see the mist from the nearby falls. But it was cold in the winter.”

Prior to joining UNC Charlotte, Bowman worked for Queens University. She and husband Joe moved to the city after he was transferred to DuPont’s logistics department nearly 20 years ago. The couple has two children, Brooke, 16, and Jacob, 12, and sports travel takes up much of their time. Their son is involved in youth baseball, basketball and football leagues, and until last year, Brooke played soccer. They continue to cheer for their hometown Syracuse Orange and the New York Yankees, and they take family trips at least twice a year – next up, Hawaii.