About Me

I bring over a quarter century of experience in higher education, including more than a decade working directly in a Financial Aid office in roles ranging from counselor to Director of Financial Aid. That experience shaped my understanding of the operational and human side of Financial Aid—the constant balancing of compliance, timelines, and the responsibility to serve students effectively.

For the past 16 years, I’ve partnered with over 50 institutions as a functional and technical consultant, supporting Financial Aid offices in navigating systems, processes, and day-to-day operational challenges. This work has given me a broad perspective on how institutions operate and where breakdowns most often occur—particularly in the execution of critical processing tasks.

I founded CHESS—Clements Higher Education Support Services—to address a gap I saw across institutions: while many organizations provide guidance and strategy, fewer are focused on the operational side of Financial Aid—the work that must get done consistently and accurately every day. CHESS was built to provide that hands-on support.

My approach is grounded in experience. I’ve been in your position, I understand the pressures your team faces, and I know how important it is to keep operations running smoothly. My goal is to provide reliable, practical support that reduces operational burden, strengthens your processes, and ultimately helps your team deliver the best possible experience for your students.

Rodney

Founder, CHESS