A Life of Service to Higher Education

Barb Davies, USA Funds^® product market strategist, passed away on Jan. 21 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

The details of her death are insignificant in comparison with the lifetime of service she provided to higher education. For nearly a quarter of a century, Davies supported services that helped students and parents pay for college, and she assisted campus financial aid professionals in delivering dollars and services to their students.

She served in financial aid offices as a member of the staff of the University of Nebraska at Kearney and as director of financial aid at Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Ariz. She also worked in a variety of sales and marketing positions for the Higher Education Assistance Foundation, Southwest Student Services, USA Group, Bank One and Sallie Mae.

Davies joined USA Funds in 2003 to help ensure that the electronic products developed for USA Funds’ customers met customers’ needs. In a July 2006 profile, she noted that her position tapped one of her many gifts. “I can talk to sales staff to identify our customers’ needs and then translate the information to the ‘techies,’” Davies said.

“Barb was a trusted team member who energetically and tirelessly worked to make sure USA Funds products and services met the needs of customers,” said Brian Allison, USA Funds vice president, technology initiatives, Davies’ supervisor. “Her joyous and uplifting attitude brightened the room and lifted people’s spirits. You could always count on laughter being part of the ‘job’ when Barb was around.”

Another colleague, Elise Sanders, vice president and region head, USA Funds Services, said of Davies, “Barb lit up a room with her warm smile and personality.  Her friendship was a true gift to everyone who knew her.”

Davies played a key role in the development and enhancement of USA Funds Connection^®, the Web portal that links USA Funds’ school-customers to the wide array of services offered by USA Funds. She also contributed to the development of USA Funds’ customer relationship-management tool, its online learning platform and online meeting manager.

Always an advocate for the customer, always responsive in support of her colleagues, Davies exemplified USA Funds’ high standards of service and quality and was a proud supporter of the organization’s mission of enhancing preparation for, access to and success in higher education.