Susan Chadwick Selected as Director of Financial Aid

By Brian Laubscher
March 13, 2026

Washington and Lee University has selected Susan Chadwick as its next director of financial aid, replacing James Kaster who will retire at the conclusion of the academic year after 26 years with the university and 16 years as the director of financial aid. Chadwick will report to Sally Stone Richmond, vice president for admissions and financial aid, and officially begins her W&L appointment July 1.

"On behalf of the admission, financial aid and Johnson program division, I am thrilled that Susan will be joining us," said Richmond. "In both experience and style, Susan will be a fantastic financial aid leader. The search committee was particularly impressed with her ability to articulate the value of higher education, to remain undeterred by the complexities of financial aid and champion colleagues throughout her impressive career. I have every confidence that Susan will build on Jim Kaster's stalwart and principled tenure as director of financial aid."

Chadwick will be responsible for the development and implementation of financial aid strategies, policies and procedures to serve W&L's strategic goals and to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations and statutes. She will be instrumental in developing and implementing policies, managing office operations and providing leadership for six professional staff. She will be tasked with ensuring the highest standard of customer service while overseeing a comprehensive aid portfolio serving both undergraduate and law students. The university employs a need-blind admissions policy and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with packages that do not include loans.

"I am thrilled to join Vice President Richmond's enrollment team as the next leader of the financial aid office at Washington and Lee," said Chadwick. "When I first stepped on campus, I immediately saw the university's strong sense of community and dedication to its students. W&L's high retention rate and commitment to meeting 100% of financial need reflect the administration's strong support for student success, and I look forward to continuing the positive work of the financial aid team."

Chadwick comes to W&L from the College Board, where she leads product ownership for the CSS Profile - the nation's primary nonfederal financial aid application - and the IDOC imaging and document processing system. She oversees the full lifecycle of the annual digital application, working with cross-functional teams and managing technical consultants to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery. She facilitates the Services subcommittee of the Financial Aid Standards and Services Advisory Committee, a group composed of leading financial aid professionals from higher education institutions, gathering insights into institutional needs and staying attuned to changes and trends across the industry.

Prior to joining the College Board, Chadwick spent nearly five years at Bryn Mawr College, first as director of financial aid and later as dean of financial aid. Before Bryn Mawr, Chadwick served as associate director of financial aid at Lawrence University from 2016 to 2018 and Scripps College from 2014 to 2016. She also held a variety of roles in the admissions office at Beloit College from 2009 to 2013 and was a graduate assistant for law school admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Master of Science in education in 2014. Chadwick also holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and religious studies from Lawrence University.

"As the director of CSS Profile and IDOC at the College Board, I have gained broader insight into the pressures on institutions that award need-based aid and developed a deeper understanding of the current higher education landscape," said Chadwick. "I am excited to return to a residential campus where I can connect directly with W&L's students and their families to help them navigate and demystify the financial aid process and collaborate with colleagues on campus to continue advancing student access to the phenomenal opportunities at W&L."