From Roadblock to Re-entry: Supporting Students Through Stopouts

Tim Riley, Assistant Controller & University Bursar, Purdue University Tim Riley serves as the Assistant Controller and University Bursar at Purdue University, bringing more than 20 years of higher education experience across student accounts, financial operations, customer service, and collections. A results driven leader, Tim is known for leveraging data, technology, and process improvement to enhance operational efficiency while delivering a clear, intuitive financial experience for students and families. At Purdue, Tim oversees the Office of the Bursar, which includes Student Accounts, University Collections, Loan Operations, ID Card Operations, Federal / State Cash Management, and Non Student Accounts Receivable. His leadership focuses on streamlining workflows, reducing costs, and implementing scalable solutions that support Purdue’s long standing commitment to affordability, now entering its 14th year of frozen tuition. Tim is deeply engaged in the higher education community, having served in leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as IACUBO, the AAU Bursar Association, Indiana Bursars Association, Touchnet, Flywire, and GradGuard Advisory boards. He regularly shares best practices and insights at national and regional conferences and values collaboration as a catalyst for innovation across institutions. In addition to his operational role, Tim is passionate about student development and currently teaches an Academic and Career Planning course for first year students in Purdue’s Exploratory Studies program. A proud Purdue alumnus and lifelong Boilermaker, Tim earned both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Purdue University.

Heather Richmond is an inspiring change agent and thought leader with over 25 years of experience in EdTech, specializing in innovative software platforms tailored for higher education. She has held executive roles in higher education payments, credentials and alumni engagement companies. Currently, she serves as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at GradGuard, the premier protection platform designed to help schools reduce financial losses while protecting students from the risks of campus life, where she is responsible for driving the growth strategy. Her work focuses on developing innovative solutions and expanding market reach by employing data-informed methodologies throughout the entire product lifecycle. A proud Missouri Western State University alum, she supports non-traditional, first-generation students through her HALE (Helping Adult Learners Excel) Scholarship.