Cornerstone University’s newest Student Financial Services employee is from Tennessee. Smith used to work at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn., as the assistant director of financial services.

Now, Smith has started work at CU as a Student Financial Services specialist on March 12. She is responsible for working with students and their financial aid awards and packages.

“I look forward to learning a lot more,” Smith said. “I really love financial aid. It’s kind of weird. I was in a position in Tennessee where four months after I was hired, our director left, so I had to learn everything on my own.”

Along with previously working at TTU, she is also a TTU graduate, obtaining her associates degree in 2001. Smith is now working on her bachelor’s degree in business management through TTU’s online program. “It should be done next year,” she said.

Smith will most likely be taking over some responsibilities for Sheryl White as she is out for cancer surgery. “I’ll be doing some verification of files,” she said.

Smith said Cornerstone is fairly large when compared to Tennessee Temple.

“It only had around 800 students, and about half of those were online students,” she said. “So we only had about 400 on campus. [Cornerstone] is big for me, but it doesn’t feel huge or anything, so I like it. The biggest difference too, I think, is that it’s just a lot more caught up. It’s updated. Tennessee Temple was kind of like in the dark ages.”

Smith has expressed her penchant for Cornerstone.

“So far it’s been great,” Smith said. “I really like how welcome everyone’s made me feel. That’s been the biggest thing. I feel like I’m treated a little bit like a celebrity here. It’s been great how welcoming and how friendly everyone has been.”

Smith reports to Scott Stewart, who is Cornerstone’s controller and director of Financial Services.

“Heather is very well qualified for her position here in the Student Financial Services office,” Stewart said.

“From day one, she has stepped in and helped out in many ways. She has come at the busiest season of the year for our office, but that hasn’t bothered her. She is very confident and willing to make suggestions and provide ideas for improvements. She has a great work ethic and is very excited about helping students with their school finances. She loves God and desires to serve Him here at CU.”

Although she lived in Tennessee, Smith is no stranger to West Michigan.

“This is home. I grew up in Caledonia,” Smith said. She was born in Caledonia and graduated from Caledonia High School, but she heard of Cornerstone because of its close proximity to North Pointe Christian High School.

Smith is still eager to learn more within her job.

“I still have a lot more to learn, and I’m just looking forward to working with the team that’s already established,” Smith said.