Samantha Hicks

Dr. Samantha Hicks is a Certified Financial Aid Administrator who currently works as the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships at Coastal Carolina University. Dr. Hicks holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Doctoral Degree in Education with a specialization in Higher Education Leadership. Her journey in financial aid began as a work-study student at CCU in 2007, where her personal experience with financial aid opened doors to higher education and ignited her passion for the field. By 2010, she joined the team as a financial aid counselor. Her doctoral research focused on financial stress and literacy among undergraduates, reflecting her commitment to addressing financial challenges in student populations.

A dedicated member of the South Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SCASFAA) since 2010, Samantha has served in various roles and encourages others to get involved. She is also involved with SASFAA and NASFAA, most recently serving on the 2024 cohort of the NASFAA Executive Leadership Collective.