July 17, 2008 — The University of Virginia Women's Center has chosen Yvonne Hubbard, director of U.Va.'s Student Financial Services, as the recipient of the 2008 Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award.

Hubbard's work ensures that the doors to Mr. Jefferson's University are open to all students who are academically qualified. She is the architect of the University's innovative financial aid program, AccessUVa, and an active proponent of financial literacy. She will be honored at a ceremony this fall.

The Zintl Award annually recognizes an extraordinary female employee who has shaped the lives of faculty, staff and students. It is named for Elizabeth Zintl, a University employee who died in 1997.

The colleagues who nominated Hubbard describe her as "an extraordinary leader, a good listener, and a calm, steady voice." They pointed out that she works efficiently, but with "a wicked sense of humor" and compassion for every student she encounters.

"For Yvonne, it has always been about the needs of students and their families," wrote those who nominated her: Milton Adams, vice provost for academic programs; John A. Blackburn, dean of admission; Rachel Most, director of the Rainey Academic Program; George Stovall, director of Institutional Assessment and Studies, and Carol Wood, assistant vice president for public affairs. "From her view, financial aid has less to do with balancing an equation in a financing formula than it does about leveling the playing field."

Hubbard came to the University in 1985 as a computer programmer on financial aid and worked her way up to a systems analyst. She became director of financial aid in 1997, after serving as interim director for a year. Between 2000 and 2002, she served as acting bursar. In 2002, financial aid and student accounts were combined into Student Financial Services.

Hubbard said winning the Zintl award shows that administrators, as well as faculty, play important roles in U.Va.'s academic mission. "Women administrators have an important part in the education experience here, and our contributions are recognized," she said.

"I know other women who have received this award, and to be part of that group is amazing."

Hubbard and her staff developed AccessUVa in 2004 after President John T. Casteen III gave them four months to work on it. The financial aid program is designed to make higher education affordable for all admitted students by offering loan-free aid packages to low-income students and by capping need-based loans for all other students. The University is committed to meeting 100 percent of students' demonstrated need; approximately 25 percent of University undergraduates receive some kind of financial aid.

Patricia Lampkin, vice president and chief student affairs officer, said Hubbard makes "what could be a bureaucratic pile of paperwork a personalized and helpful conversation that takes into account students' needs, feelings, stresses and complex financial situations." She has "an ability to work effectively with any group of people on any task," Lampkin said.

Hubbard's supervisor, Stephen Kimata, assistant vice president for finance and university comptroller, also supported her nomination. "Her extraordinary commitment to our students, our institution and the larger community have been demonstrated time and time again," he said.

In addition to AccessUVa , Hubbard helped create "Super Saturday," an annual event focusing on financial aid, for parents and students in the local community, whether or not the students plan to attend U.Va. Super Saturdays are co-hosted by U.Va. and Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Thanks to Hubbard's efforts to promote financial literacy education, U.Va. recently won the National Student Loan Program's Benjamin Franklin Award. Hubbard conducts financial literacy sessions for about 10 summer orientations.

"Anyone who has witnessed her financial literacy presentations for our students and parents will readily observe the passion she has for her work," wrote Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Yoke San Reynolds.

In their separate letters, Reynolds and Lampkin both noted Hubbard's integrity in following the legal requirements for financial aid while helping students.

Hubbard is the 13th recipient of the Zintl Leadership Award, given by U.Va.'s Women's Center in honor of the late writer and journalist, Elizabeth Zintl, who served as Casteen's chief of staff until her death in 1997. The award is supported by a gift from the late David A. Harrison III.

A reception honoring Hubbard will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 25 in the auditorium of the Harrison Institute/Small Special Collections Library. RSVP to Chris Wilcox Elliott at
cle9y@virginia.edu.

Past recipients:

•    2007: Carolyn M. Callahan, Commonwealth Professor of Education and director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented

•    2006: Shamim Sisson, senior associate dean of students and director of the Office of Student Life

•    2005: Karen Rheuban, associate dean for Continuing Medical Education, professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Office of Telemedicine

•    2004: Karin Wittenborg, University Librarian

•    2003: Patricia Werhane, Ruffin Professor of Business Ethics

•    2002: Shirley Menaker, associate provost for academic support, and Marva Barnett, director of the Teaching Resource Center

•    2001: Claire Cronmiller, associate professor of biology, and Louise M. Dudley, director of University Relations

•    2000: Sharon Hostler, McLemore Birdsong Professor of Pediatrics and medical director of the Kluge Rehabilitation Center

•    1998: Patricia Lampkin, associate vice president for student affairs, and Sylvia Terry, associate dean of African-American Affairs