More often than not, that person is Elizabeth Beaton, associate director of financial aid — a worthy recipient of this year’s Staff Excellence Award.

“Elizabeth is willing to help anyone in need, whether it be students, families or coworkers,” Kelly Osorio, director of financial aid, wrote in her nomination of Beaton. “She treats everyone with kindness and tries her best to be a problem-solver, regardless of the situation or the complexities it involves.”

A nationwide delayed FAFSA rollout that impacted thousands of students was one such scenario. Another happened during a pre-recorded FAFSA webinar that froze up before its conclusion. Stepping in for herself and 'going live,' so to speak, Beaton’s delivery was so seamless and self-assured that her manager didn’t notice the difference.

Echoing Osorio’s nomination, chief experience officer Tom Ellett praised Beaton for her unsung and often unseen efforts as a financial aid resource for Quinnipiac families. In particular, he noted her “pin-point accuracy, calm demeanor and stellar customer-service approach” in replying to parents on Facebook pages that aren’t even managed by the university. 

“Just when parents seem lost, frustrated or simply overwhelmed,” Ellett wrote, “Elizabeth posts a comment that is not only helpful, but sends relief to the parents that someone at Quinnipiac is looking out for them. You can almost feel them exhale after she replies.” 

Having served in a variety of admissions and financial aid roles at the university over a 20-year period prior to her full-time appointment in 2023, Beaton — whose husband, Dave, is a longtime admissions counselor at Quinnipiac — has honed a unique role for herself as a calm voice that cuts through the storm. 

“People can be very passionate. They're a little bit panicked,” Beaton acknowledged. “The new changes to FAFSA has changed a lot of aid. So you approach it like you’re letting them unwind and you just listen to them. I think that's the key: making sure that they feel that I heard them, and I've done everything that I can within the institutional policies and the federal regulations to help them. But sometimes they just want to be heard, not interrupted.”

Sometimes the people Beaton helps aren’t frantic parents. She’s been known to host an impromptu "mom moment" in her office, she said. One of her student workers gave her a card before graduating inscribed with a long note of gratitude. On the front was a new title for her resume: “Bonus mom.” 

Additionally, Elizabeth oversees the university’s annual and endowed scholarships, a role she relishes for how it keeps her in touch with young alumni. She also gives instructional talks on financial aid to local high schools and out-of-state universities. She’ll be joined at October’s Center for Excellence dinner by Dave, their son, Michael, a Quinnipiac graduate student who works in the admissions office, and their daughter, Sydney, a senior at Stonehill College.

The award, like earning a new title from a student worker, just sweetens an already rewarding career.

“The opportunity to do this is so fulfilling,” Beaton said. “To really know that at the end of the day I impacted or helped somebody to get to the next level in their journey — that’s the most gratifying thing ever.”