Meet Our Financial Aid Team
Meet our Financial Aid Team
We’re here to answer your financial aid questions and help make your college education affordable.
Michelle Standridge
Director of Financial Aid
mstandridge@spalding.edu
Michelle holds two bachelor’s degrees: a BA in Art and a BS in Accounting from Spalding University. She also completed her master’s degree in Business Communication with a concentration in Organization Leadership at Spalding. She has worked for Spalding University since 2009. She very active in the state and regional financial aid associations and currently sits as President of the Kentucky Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (KASFAA). Michelle enjoys association work and has chaired many committees and has presented trainings to help grow the financial aid committee within Kentucky. She has a passion for financial aid and truly enjoys connecting individually with students, helping them navigate their journey to become world changers.
Dawn Graviss
Senior Financial Aid Counselor
dgraviss@spalding.edu
Dawn Graviss has over 30 years of financial aid experience and joined the Spalding Financial Aid team in 2021. She is active in the state and regional associations and has served on the board of the Kentucky Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator (KASFAA). On the KASFAA board, she served as the private sector representative and has volunteered for various committees with KASFAA and SASFAA (Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators). Her favorite part of financial aid is helping students achieve their dreams of a college education.
Coen Beach
Financial Aid Counselor
cbeach@spalding.edu
Coen earned two degrees while at Spalding: a BA in business management and a master’s degree in Business Communication with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. While completing his degrees he also played soccer at Spalding for 5 years. Coen joined the team late in 2023 and is excited to be helping students. Coen’s favorite part of financial aid is helping guide students through the many hoops of financial aid while they complete their journey through Spalding.
Taylor Despain
Financial Aid Counselor
tdespain01@spalding.edu
Taylor joined the team in May of 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education with a concentration in College Student Personnel. She has worked in higher education for three years. What Taylor enjoys most about working on a college campus is connecting with students and helping them through their college career. She is passionate about providing accessibility and creating welcoming spaces for all. When she isn’t in the office, she’s looking for opportunities to volunteer as a tutor for K-12 students.
Jessica Piercey
Financial Aid Counselor
jpiercey@spalding.edu
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, specializing in accounting. She joined the financial aid team in May of 2024 and is excited to be a part of the Spalding community. Jessica looks forward to serving students and their families and helping them navigate the financial aid process throughout their time at Spalding.
