Celebrating a Career of Impact: Maria Brown’s Legacy in Student Accounts
In Brief:
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As Maria Brown prepares for retirement after nearly 24 years at North Carolina State University (NC State), we reflect on her remarkable journey, her leadership in student accounts, and her enduring partnership with Nelnet Campus Commerce.
Blog Post
Honoring Maria Brown’s Legacy at NC State
With her retirement approaching at the end of the year, Maria Brown’s story offers a moment to honor her contributions and reflect on the legacy she leaves behind. For nearly 24 years, Maria has been a dynamic force in NC State’s Student Accounts department, right in the heart of what she lovingly calls "Raleighwood.” Her leadership, warmth, and innovation have shaped the student experience and inspired colleagues across campus and beyond. As she prepares to step into retirement, we celebrate her legacy and the enduring impact of her partnership with Nelnet Campus Commerce.
Maria’s Journey: From Accounting to Leadership
Maria's career at NC State began in 2001, and over the decades, she rose through the ranks with a passion for student service and operational excellence. Her journey from the Controller’s Office to Director of Student Accounts is a testament to her dedication and leadership. Her passion for student interaction led her to move from the University Controller's Office to the University Cashier's Office in 2004. Over the years, Maria climbed the ranks from Assistant Director to Associate Director, and finally to Director when her predecessor retired. Her extensive experience in both the private sector and higher education equipped her with a unique blend of industry knowledge and a deep understanding of student needs.
Under Maria's leadership, the student accounts department evolved significantly. In her role, she oversaw a team of 19 staff members and five to seven student workers at an institution with approximately 40,000 students, including those from satellite campuses who pay fees to use university facilities. “We partner with a French school that’s over on our Centennial campus. They’re not considered students of NC State, but they pay student fees here so they can use our facilities and have that kind of on-campus experience,” said Maria.
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Team Dynamics
Maria’s joy in mentoring young professionals and building a close-knit team was one of her proudest achievements. Her staff, many of whom worked alongside her for over a decade, reflected the collaborative spirit she fostered. One of the key factors in Maria’s longevity at NC State was her incredible staff. "Almost half of my staff have been here longer than 10 years. Some have been here as long as I have," Maria shared. She found joy in hiring recent graduates and student workers, whom she affectionately called her "little guinea pigs" because they helped test new functionality for students.
Maria enjoyed the refreshing energy these students brought to the office and relied on their help to test new systems.
University Culture
Maria’s love for NC State extended beyond her office—located right in the center of campus. From watching marching bands to enjoying the campus gym, she embraced the vibrancy of university life and remained deeply connected to the student experience.
She spoke of watching the girls dressed up for sorority formal time, carrying their shoes, and affectionately said, “I still remember that feeling.”
Improving the Student Experience
Maria championed digital transformation in student accounts, implementing Nelnet Campus Commerce’s online payment system QuikPay and monthly payment plans to streamline operations and improve accessibility.
The changes she instituted brought efficiencies to the department, reducing the need for in-person payments. This not only eased staffing shortages, but also enhanced the student experience by allowing students to make payments from anywhere in the world.
Maria appreciated the security offered by taking virtually all of NC State’s payments online, confidently saying that “In 20 years, it’s never been an issue. [Nelnet] takes their security very, very seriously.”
Her commitment to financial wellness helped countless students manage their education more effectively and reduce the amount of debt they carried upon graduating. She encouraged all students to do a payment plan—even those who must take out loans—and to “live like students now so they don’t have to later.”
Daily Operations
Known for her early mornings and problem-solving mindset, Maria led with empathy and efficiency. Her focus on simplifying processes and supporting her staff ensured that students received compassionate, effective service—even during challenging moments. This included serving a growing student populations with a smaller staff during her tenure, which she said inspired her to be more innovative.
Her days were packed with problem-solving and collaborative meetings with other departments like the registrar’s office and financial aid, but Maria’s positive attitude and love for daily variety in her work helped her overcome the challenges that inevitably arose.
Maria said when she moved into her retiring boss’s director position, he asked about her plans for after she took the director position. Her response? “I don’t aspire to do anything more here because anything I would do would take me away from student interaction and my staff.” Maria said he warned her the job would wear her down. Maria later agreed: “I think that any seasoned bursar would agree with me that it wears you down. But most days are sunny.”
She appreciated her great IT team and worked closely with them to improve navigation through the system. “I try to give my staff the easiest pathway to be able to serve a student as they’re on the phone or crying in front of you (as sometimes happens),” Maria emphasized.
Growing With Nelnet—Professionally and Personally
Maria's relationship with Nelnet has been a cornerstone of her career. From early implementations to trusted collaborations, she built strong bonds with Nelnet associates who became more than colleagues—they became friends.
"We started with infiNET actually, before it became [part of] Nelnet," Maria recalled. Over the years, she developed both trusted professional relationships and personal friendships with people at Nelnet. "I always had people I could call and say, ‘I don't know what's going on, but it needs to be fixed,’" Maria shared.
These relationships were invaluable, especially during challenging times. “Every one of my IT staff would say the same thing: When things go awry, people step in and you're getting all the help you can to get you back online…fast," Maria emphasized.
“I would 100% recommend Nelnet. We’ve had some blips along the way, but we have not had any catastrophes.”
Sharing Stories of Nelnet
Maria’s stories of Nelnet conferences, races, and friendships reflect the warmth and camaraderie she found in the partnership. These moments will remain highlights of her career and personal life.
Maria's fondly remembers running the Good Life Halfsy Half Marathon in Lincoln, Neb., where Nelnet headquarters is located, and being cheered on by Nelnet associates Lori Prange and Matt Spethman. "Lori was having dinner with me and she had run it before…I didn't really know her well at this point, and she said she would come and pick me up at the hotel and bring me to the race start and she did," Maria recounted. These experiences created lasting memories and friendships that Maria cherishes.
“One of the things I’m going to miss is going to conferences and just hugging everyone at the Nelnet booth, going to the Nelnet conference. We’re all a big family now. So it’s going to be a transition.”
Maria worked with many wonderful people at Nelnet over the years. She recalled Mark Schilmoeller, who later helped resolve a critical issue with credit card payments. "He wasn't my person anymore. He wasn't on my team, but…nobody knew what to do and he had been through the beginning of this whole journey with us here at NC State. And so I texted him," Maria said. Mark's quick action and dedication ensured that the issue was resolved promptly.
Maria appreciated trusted support from Customer Success Consultant Todd Siebens, Account Executive Buddy Costa, and Account Executives Manager Laurie Holbrook Doyon. "When TMS was bought by Nelnet and we thought we were going to lose Todd, it was devastating to me and Buddy too," Maria shared. She also fondly reminisced about great times at conferences with Account Executive Amy Moser, who became a close friend, and current Nelnet Business Services Director of Brand Marketing Jeralee Hahn.
“You can ask anyone at Nelnet. I’m quite comfortable to tell anyone from the frontline person to the president when something goes awry. Everyone is approachable. I’ve had quite a frank conversation with all levels of people at Nelnet. Everyone is receptive and you see changes.”
Leaving a Legacy at NC State
As Maria prepares to retire, she leaves behind a legacy of innovation, compassion, and excellence. Her final initiative—introducing past due payment plans—demonstrates her enduring commitment to student success. She’s excited about providing this pathway for students to return to NC State who have dropped out due to financial burdens or medical reasons.
Though she’s stepping away from her role, the impact of her work and relationships will continue to shape NC State and Nelnet Campus Commerce for years to come.
As Maria steps into retirement, she carries with her the friendships, memories, and impact of a career well-lived—and a legacy that will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.
Want to be featured in our next Community Spotlight?
Inspired by Maria’s story? We’d love to honor more legacies and share how Nelnet Campus Commerce has supported your institution. Reach out to be featured in our next Community Spotlight—or to explore how we can help simplify student financial services at your institution.
Author: Nelnet Campus Commerce
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