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Tonya Richardson Dean is a seasoned higher education leader with more than 20 years of experience serving as a Director of Financial Aid, currently holding the role of Director of Financial Aid & Veteran Services at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. Her career spans multiple areas within Student Services, where she has built a reputation for advocacy, innovation, and student-centered leadership.
Tonya earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University–Commerce and holds a Master of Arts in Human Services with a specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Her educational foundation has deeply informed her holistic, empathetic approach to leadership, counseling, and supporting students through their academic and personal journeys.
She has successfully led cross-functional teams through financial aid modernization, regulatory transitions, and strategic initiatives aimed at improving access for underserved and veteran student populations. A natural collaborator and mentor, Tonya is committed to the professional development of others in the field and to advancing equity and excellence across the student aid landscape.
Beyond her work in higher education, Tonya is the owner of Creative Ujima2, an event planning business that reflects her entrepreneurial drive and creativity. In her personal life, she takes the greatest pride in her family—her husband of 34 years, Rodney; their two daughters, Tonisha and Jasmine; and her beloved grandson, Yasir.
Tonya believes that "without change, it is impossible to grow," a principle that guides her leadership philosophy.
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