“Never give up.” Monica Comeaux lives by these words. An avid runner, she ran the Chevron Houston Marathon with a Boston Marathon qualifying time but wasn’t allowed to register because preference is given to the faster times. So she ran the Houston Marathon again, this time qualifying for entrance into the Boston Marathon. During and after, the 2016 Boston Marathon was one of the greatest experiences of her life.
UHD’s Director of Financial Aid, Comeaux has more than two decades of experience in higher education financial aid services and has worked at UHD since 2007. “Over time, loan programs have come and gone, and with each new program comes new requirements. In this profession, you have to be flexible and adapt,” said Comeaux. In her current position, she manages the staff who work directly with students to process their financial aid, including the Associate Director of Customer Service and Outreach, Associate Director of Processing, and the Student Loans Coordinator.
Her “never give up” motto permeates all areas of her life. A University of Texas-Austin grad, Comeaux married her high school sweetheart (the two graduated from Dobie High School in Pasadena), who suffered from cystic fibrosis. Tragedy hit not long after the couple adopted then 12-year-old Alexis, who is now a junior at UHD after transferring from Texas A&M University Kingsville. Comeaux was devastated when her husband suddenly passed away. But as fate—or life—would have it, she met the second love of her life and now has two young children—one in pre-K, the other first grade—who keep her extremely busy. Outings include the Houston Zoo, the Children’s Museum, Moody Gardens, and a recent trip to Walt Disney World, on top of weekly classes in gymnastics, dance, and Ninja Warrior classes.
With staying on top of changes to financial aid policies and a hectic family life,
Comeaux’s plate is brimming over but that
didn’t stop her from applying for the National Association of Student Financial Aid
Administrators’ Diversity Leadership Program. She is one of six financial aid professionals
accepted into the program out of 65 applications and will represent the southwest
region. “My goal is to meet colleagues from other areas of the country, and as different
things happen in the financial aid sphere, learn how other universities handle the
changes,” says Comeaux.
She heads to D.C. in February for the leadership conference and will attend the national conference this summer. She meets regularly with her Diversity Leadership Program mentor, who, luckily, lives in the Houston area.
With her affinity for running, nature, and community, Comeaux has served on the Open Spaces and Trails Committee of Seabrook’s Boards and Commissions since 2013. She is currently the chairman of the committee for a two-year term.
“Oh, and I love to work out,” she adds. Before COVID, she taught at 24-Hour Fitness. Now the exercise guru enjoys the peace and quiet of her garage and her squat rack. “Working out is just so good for our physical and mental health.” And maybe that’s the secret to her success.