Tuition Discounting: Results From the 2023 NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study

Fueled by a passion for developing the potential of young people into promise, Dawn Alston chose higher education as her platform for service 25 years ago… of which 20 have been at Spelman College. Dawn began her career as a scientist and adjunct faculty member, but later, evolved into a research administrator and ultimately, a collegiate business officer. This unique vantage point affords Mrs. Alston the opportunity to understand the intricate relationship between academics and finance. 

Dawn holds a BS in Biology from Hampton University, earned a MS in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University and an MBA from Louisiana State University. Mrs. Alston is also a Certified Research Administrator. It is Dawn’s professional goal to ensure that finances do not fail academia, and ultimately tomorrow’s young leaders. Although not a traditional one, every step along Dawn’s path to the role of Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs and Chief Financial Officer contributed a unique and valuable aptitude to her knowledge-base. As a compliance officer for the Dept of Defense, she became astute at interpreting government policy and regulations, eventually selected to receive the Outstanding Employee Award for contributions that improved processes and procedures related to the mitochondrial match DNA project. 

As an adjunct Biology instructor at Wofford College and Tri-County Technical College she honed teaching and training skills, and in her first position at Spelman as a research technician, she enhanced analytical and critical thinking skills. A transition in career from academics to finance at Spelman has led to fast track promotions from grants compliance specialist to Asst Director of Budgets and Contracts, Director of Budgets and Contracts and ultimately Associate Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs. As a mission minded part of the Spelman community, Mrs. Alston has served on various College-wide committees including, SACS leadership, leadership council, operational planning and risk assessment and management, as well as the technology governance committee. 

During Mrs, Alston’s 19-year tenure in the Division of Business and Financial Affairs, she has been instrumental in: 1) ensuring a history of balanced budgets, 2) the development and implementation of the formalized fiscal grant compliance program, which ensure audits with no findings and 3) guiding the College’s Operating budget development process. Mrs. Alston serves on the National Association of Colleges and University Business Officers (NACUBO) board, is the SACUBO small institutions committee chair and a member of the National Council of University Research Administrator (NCURA) and the Society of Research Administrators (SRA). Mrs. Alston has also consulted with several non-profits nation-wide guiding grant-writing efforts, non-profit business structure and organization and grants management. 

Mrs. Alston originally hails from Washington DC and she and her husband, Milton, are the parents of one son, Milton Jr.

Chris Gardner currently serves as the chief financial officer at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, a position he has held since 2018. In this role, Gardner oversees accounting and finance, budget and planning, investment, facilities and information technology services. He came to Wofford in September 2013 as associate vice president for finance and controller. During his time at Wofford, he served on the college’s strategic planning implementation team prior to becoming CFO. He currently serves as chair of the SACUBO Investment Committee and as an at-large representative to the SACUBO board. Prior to joining Wofford, he was manager of financial and statistic reporting for AVX Corp. in Fountain Inn, S.C., and audit manager for KPMG LLP in Greenville, S.C. He also had been senior audit associate for KPMG Global Services in Montvale, New Jersey. 

Gardner, a certified public accountant, received a bachelor's of science degree in accountancy from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Kathleen Masterson is assistant director of research and policy analysis at NACUBO, where she helps manage and analyze the organization’s various surveys and research projects. Prior to joining NACUBO, Masterson evaluated state education funding at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. She has a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and earned her bachelor’s degree from The College of William and Mary.

Kenneth E. Redd is senior director, research and policy analysis for NACUBO. At NACUBO, Redd directs the annual NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments, the NACUBO Tuition Discounting Study, and other studies on higher education finance issues.

In addition to his work at NACUBO, Redd also serves on the board of trustees for the Meadville Lombard School of Theology in Chicago, IL, and is a member of the board of directors for the Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF) and the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE).

Redd has a master’s degree in public affairs from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota.