In the Spotlight: Dan Sistarenik
Lisa Simpson
The HESC Spring 2009 Newsletter is proud to spotlight Dan Sistarenik, Director of Financial Aid at SUNY New Paltz.
Dan started out in aid administration 35 years ago with an interest in Student Affairs administration at Plattsburgh State. While there he was very active in student government, a Resident Assistant, Fraternity President, and Admission’s Office student worker. He continued with his graduate studies at Plattsburgh and received a Masters in College and Agency Counseling.
Dan initially planned on a career in Admissions, but positions were scarce at the time and financial aid administration was in its infancy. Curious about the financial aid process, Dan chose to become the second graduate intern to work in the Plattsburgh Financial Aid Office.
In the financial aid office, discovering that students indicated their college admission choices in preference order on the aid application – then called the PCS (Parents Confidential Statement) as there was no FAFSA – Dan began practicing "enrollment management." He didn’t know at the time that it would someday become common practice. According to Dan, in the early years of his career it took 4 -5 weeks to process aid, conducting a “hand” need analysis using pencil, paper, and lookup charts provided by CSS to manually complete the calculations. It was not fun but it was challenging.
After graduation, Dan spent four years at Rockland Community College, handling loan certification and student employment. Then he moved to become Director of Financial Aid at Dutchess Community College. While there he helped implement the first automated aid system called SAM. Eight years later, SUNY New Paltz recruited Dan to overcome several larger scale financial aid challenges. He’s been there now for 23 years.
Dan finds New Paltz is always evolving, with new initiatives and ideas making it one of the most vibrant SUNY campuses. Dan says, “it has an energy, a diversified culture and an atmosphere like no other SUNY campus. It truly is an exciting and fun place to work. The faculty and staff are unique and independent thinkers, which makes for interesting debate and intellectual conversation.”
Dan feels blessed and grateful to have had many of the founding aid administrators to guide him and shape him into the seasoned financial aid professional and self proclaimed “dinosaur" that he is today.
Dan has served in many positions through the years, including SUNYFAP’s president, chairperson of NYSFAAA Region 5, and as a member of the HESC Advisory Board. Locally, he has served as vice president of the Rhinebeck School Board.
Dan says, “the aid profession is always changing and challenging, and is sometimes very overwhelming. But with dedicated colleagues who help one another and our State agency partnership to support us all, we prevail and do what is best for our students.”
He goes on to muse, “Watching a first generation student graduate, succeed in the world of work, uplift a family, and break the poverty cycle is priceless! Helping financially makes it all possible. EOP is the aid program closest to my heart.”
Working at New Paltz has another benefit for Dan; it is only 85 miles from Yankee Stadium. As a die hard Yankees fan, Dan enjoys going to many games with his sons. Whether they are winning or losing, Dan sticks by his team.
For many years HESC has looked to Dan for ideas, for suggestions, or as someone with whom to talk through tough questions. We thank you Dan for all you have given to the students, families, colleagues, and the profession over the years.