Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to share that Lucy Serrato-Lager will assume the role of Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at San José State University, effective May 25, 2026.
Lucy brings more than two decades of experience in financial aid administration, operations, compliance, and student service at SJSU. She currently serves as Associate Director, Operational and Technical, in the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, where she leads operational and technical teams, oversees critical business processes, and supports the administration of more than $350 million in federal, state, and institutional aid.
Throughout her career at SJSU, Lucy has demonstrated a strong commitment to operational excellence, compliance, and student success. She has led efforts to improve office efficiency, strengthen reconciliation processes, implement system enhancements, and ensure accurate and timely reporting to the CSU Chancellor’s Office, the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Student Aid Commission. She also works closely with auditors, the Bursar’s Office, and campus partners to ensure financial aid processes meet federal, state, and institutional requirements.
Lucy’s experience spans multiple areas of financial aid operations. Before her current role, she served as Operations Lead and Federal Work Study Coordinator in the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, where she supported staff development, coordinated Federal Work Study funds, strengthened customer service, and helped ensure students and campus departments received accurate information and support.
Lucy is recognized for her problem-solving approach, technical knowledge, collaborative leadership, and ability to streamline complex processes in support of students. Her deep institutional knowledge and commitment to service will be invaluable as she steps into this important leadership role.
Lucy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Menlo College and an Associate of Arts in Accounting from Heald College.
Please join me in congratulating Lucy on this new role. We look forward to her continued leadership and impact in supporting SJSU students.
