As Associate Director of Scholarships at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and having worked in the higher education field in financial aid & scholarships offices for the past 10 years, Keia has witnessed many college students overwhelmed with the high cost to pursue a degree; and the amount of student loan debt they will incur in just four (4) years.  She can relate to their dilemma having had to rely on student loans herself while pursuing her bachelor and impending master’s degree.

 

Keia has traveled as far as Dothan, Alabama where she spoke to young girls of GIRLS, INC., an organization adopted by Oprah Winfrey, to help instill that girls do well in school to get a good education and pursue their career goals.  She was also a guest speaker during A Bigger Picture, Inc.'s Unleashed Conference 2015 in April, where she spoke to an audience of 100 teenager girls about her platform “Financial Smarts for Students”, self-confidence and fashion.  Keia was invited as the guest speaker for Harford County’s GIRLS & BOYS CLUB “End of the Year Teen Party” Event in May and the Smart Girls Graduation Speaker for their Aberdeen and the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Clubs.  In partnership with the GIRLS SCOUTS OF AMERICA, she is the keynote speaker for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland’s “Get Financially Fit” Financial Literacy Program. This is a great program which teaches middle and high school students professionalism and helps prepare girls for their future careers.

 

In Spring of 2015, Keia was welcomed as a Money Matters Contributor for The DC Ladies.  She was also honored in 2015 by being selected to Chair of the Associates Newsletter/Social Media Committee for the regional Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Executive Board.  She has continued to serve as chair in that capacity and has also been selected as 2018-19 Chair, Conference Committee and Co-Chair, Electronic Services 2017-Present.

 

In partnership as Digital Marketing Advisor and Social Media Director with the innovative organization, SponsorChange.org, which “helps students who give back, pay back” by volunteering their skills with a non-profit organization,  Keia has helped the organization expand their social media nationally and internationally. 

 

SponsorChange encourages college students and recent graduates to offer their skill-based services on a project.  At the conclusion of the service project students receive an average award of $1,000 applied directly to their outstanding student loan debt. The award originates from sponsor donations. SponsorChange co-founder, Raymar Hampshire, creates a “pay it forward” approach to promote volunteerism as well as assistance in sponsoring graduates in their student loan debt.