Michael J. Runiewicz has been named director of Student Financial Services at Washington University in St. Louis, announced John Berg, associate vice chancellor.
Previously, Runiewicz was associate director of Student Financial Services.
Runiewicz replaces Bill Witbrodt, who retired after more than 20 years of service to Washington University June 30.
“Mike has already made his mark at Washington University,” Berg says.
“He is a well-respected colleague and financial aid official whose professional career has prepared him well to take on this new role,” Berg says. “He leads a team of people that is legendary for the level of service they provide to our students and their families.”
In his new role as director of Student Financial Services, Runiewicz will lead a team that manages the university’s financial assistance funds and ensures proper administration of institutional, federal and state student aid programs, including their optimal use in meeting the needs of students and in maintaining high fiduciary standards.
The office also coordinates the delivery of federal and other student aid programs to undergraduate, graduate, professional degree and part-time students.
“I’m thrilled about this new opportunity, and I look forward to the challenges,” Runiewicz says.
“Washington University is committed to ensuring students have the financial resources to enroll and to graduate,” Runiewicz says, “and I’m excited to lead a great group of colleagues who all support this commitment.”
Runiewicz has served as associate director of Student Financial Services since 2006. He was assistant director from 2004-06.
Before joining WUSTL, Runiewicz was a senior financial analyst (2002-03) and product analyst (2000-02) for Wolters Kluwer Health.
While at Wolters Kluwer, among other duties, Runiewicz developed pricing models for new services and products, established company-wide processes to ensure financial accuracy and consistency for new services, and completed audits for commissions and billing.
Runiewicz also was director of finance for Williams General Corp. from 1993-2000 and collections supervisor at Exito from 1992-93.
Runiewicz earned a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Georgia State University in 2000 and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Florida in 1992.