Rachel Grimes
Title: Assistant Director- Outreach UNT Student Money Management Center
Institution: University of North Texas
Biographical Information
My experience in Student Affairs began during my time as a Graduate Assistant for the College
of Liberal Arts and Career Services at Texas State University. After earning my Master’s in
International Studies from A&M University, I found that I enjoyed working with students and in
higher education. I accepted a position as the Program Coordinator for the Student Money
Management Center at the University of North Texas in 2010. From my first day at the Center I
understood how much TACUSPA could help me grow as a professional. That fall I was selected
as a TACUSPA fellow and helped coordinate the New Professionals Institute. My positive
experiences with TACUSPA highlighted the importance of professional organizations and the
role they play in the sharing of ideas and best practices. Understanding the importance of
building strong networks for colleagues to share best practices, I was thrilled to be one of the
founding members of The Texas Association of Collegiate Financial Education Professionals.
Apart from my membership with TACFEP, I currently serve on the Continuing Education
Committee of the Association of Financial Planners, Educators, and Practitioners (AFCPE)
helping to develop professional development and education opportunities for its members.
For excellence in service to students, I have received recognition that includes the UNT Division
of Student Affairs’ Staff Member of the Year Award, TACUSPA’s Outstanding New Professional
Award, and as AFCPE’s Outstanding Financial Literacy Education Program of the Year Award. My
selection as an award winner would have been possible if it had not been for the support I
receive from mentors I have met throughout my career and TACUSPA, who have inspired me to
continue to grow and to engage students. Serving as TACUSPA’s Vice President of Professional
Development and Outreach would be an honor and an opportunity for me to give back to an
organization and membership that has taught me so much.
Statement of Candidacy
The greatest skill that I can bring to this position is my understanding of the broad range of
career levels, and diversity of jobs represented by the TACUSPA membership. Providing diverse
professional development and outreach opportunities to TACUSPA’s diverse membership to
ensure the professional development opportunities are relevant to members. My service as a
member of the Continuing Education Committee for the Association of Financial Planners,
Educators, and Practitioners has provided me with hands-on experience in developing
webinars, professional development trainings, and brining to the Board’s attention the
educational needs of a diverse membership.
I have five bold goals that will define my tenure as vice president:
1. Continue to design, develop and implement professional development programs based
on TACUSPA’s core values and communities of practice.
2. Develop a means by which members can track progress on a pre-defined professional
development plan by tracking completion of workshops, webinars, and other sponsored
training opportunities.
3. Regularly re-examine the types of data used to evaluate TACUSPA’s professional
development opportunities and activities to identify strengths, weaknesses, needs, and
trends.
4. Organize professional development opportunities along 3 focus areas:
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Content- academic subject knowledge
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Context- the climate for authentic learning
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Pedagogy or Process – a repertoire of instructional strategies
These opportunities will be matched to the needs of the members according to their
stages of development based upon research, theory, and standards of professional
practice.
5. Given that the TACUSPA membership is geographically separated, continue to explore
opportunities to incorporate the use of electronic/technological resources to plan and
present professional development opportunities and programs.