Our Outreach unit is dedicated to making higher education financially accessible for everyone. We play a pivotal role in guiding students and families through the financial aid landscape, ensuring that you are fully informed and prepared to take advantage of all available resources.

Our team provides personalized assistance, whether you are just beginning your college experience or progressing through your academic journey. Our services include financial aid sessions, visits to local high schools, involvement in college fairs, and participation in various campus events. For assistance, contact us at [email protected].

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Schedule a Presentation or Event

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At this time, we are offering both in-person and virtual event support. Please indicate the type of support needed in all requests.

Our office has a variety of presentations to help students and families prepare to tackle the college application cycle. These include a three-part “Financial Aid 101” series designed to give high school seniors an overview of what to expect when they plan for college. The Federal Student Aid Financial Aid Toolkit may also give you ideas for an event at your school. 

Complete this form to schedule a presentation for your school or community event.

U-M Financial Aid Virtual Next Steps Series

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Learn more about financial aid, the application process, and what to expect. These webinars are geared for students who are applying or have completed their college admission applications for fall 2025. Parents are welcome to attend as well.

Webinar dates for 2025 will be announced soon.

  • Financial Aid 101 - General overview of the financial aid process with an emphasis on planning and applying for financial aid.
  • Financial Aid Next Steps - Overview on what steps a student and family should take to complete their financial aid process after being offered admission.
  • Financial Aid Notice Workshop - How to understand your financial aid notice, potential costs, and move forward with the best offer.
After each event, you will receive an email survey and links to videos and resources that will be helpful to students applying for financial aid.
 

Community & High School Resources

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Here are resources available for PDF download to share or print for your high school or community event.

What steps do your students need to take to prepare for and apply to college? This checklist offers step-by-step guidance.

This one-page guide offers tips for each year of high school as you look to a future in college. It also features some key questions to ask about admissions, financial aid, and life on campus.

This guide offers a list of some current scholarship opportunities and tips for applying for scholarship money.

Meet Our Staff

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Stephen Nabors

Stephen Nabors
Assistant Director for Outreach

Stephen leads our Outreach Unit with his 20+ years of customer service experience and 10+ years of supervisory experience in both the public and private sectors. Stephen’s advocacy for access and affordability in higher education fuels his passion for financial aid outreach. He is very appreciative of his role in helping provide and support financial aid outreach programs to help assist under-served and under-resourced students and families with a successful navigation of the financial aid application process.

 

D'Jean Farley

D'Jean Farley
Financial Aid Administrator - Outreach

D'Jean is excited to help students and families understand their financial aid options and navigate the process. He is passionate about making higher education more accessible and enjoys being a resource for others during their academic journey.

 

Tyra Gassaway

Tyra Gassaway
Financial Aid Administrator - Outreach

Tyra joins the outreach unit with a background in social work. She is now utilizing her strong passion for helping others by providing students with financial aid knowledge and connecting them to valuable resources. Her goal is to empower as many people as possible by making financial aid opportunities clear and accessible.

 

Steven Pattison

Steven Pattison
Financial Aid Administrator Senior

As a new outreach unit counselor at Michigan, Steven enjoys partnering with students and families to navigate the complexities of financing a higher education. He brings a strong background in financial aid and student outreach to the team. He is dedicated to answering and helping families understand the many questions they have around student financial aid.