Michael Bartini. Photo courtesy: College Board.

Michael Bartini, of Wellesley, Mass., has been named Bowdoin’s Director of Student Aid, effective July 1, 2012. Bartini will succeed Steve Joyce, who has announced his intention to move to part-time status at the end of the current academic year.

Bartini brings more than 30 years of financial aid experience to Bowdoin, including eight years as director of financial aid at Brown University. For the past five years, Bartini has held a variety of leadership roles at The College Board. He previously served as director of financial aid at Washington and Lee University, where he also oversaw all federal programs for the School of Law. Bartini is a graduate of Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass., where he earned a degree in economics.

“We have enjoyed tremendous continuity of leadership in our student aid office and operations over the years, as the program has expanded to meet the needs of our students and their families,” says Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Scott Meiklejohn, who points out that when Joyce joined the Student Aid office in 1991, the College distributed $6.7 million in need-based financial aid. Today, Bowdoin provides more than $28 million to approximately 44% of the student body, with an average annual grant of $35,000.

“This aid plays a critical role in our ability to attract a diverse student body and advances Bowdoin’s long-standing tradition of providing opportunity to accomplished students, regardless of their ability to pay our fees,” says Meiklejohn. “Steve has been instrumental in building this outstanding program and serving as a trusted counselor to students and parents, and I am grateful that he will remain with us as Michael transitions to the director’s role.”