Changes within the ISU financial aid office will not affect students’ abilities to receive help or dollars.

Director of Student Financial Aid Earl Dowling has accepted a position at Stanford University. He will begin Feb. 2 as associate dean and director of financial aid.

Roberta Johnson has been named interim director of financial aid.

Dowling’s move is a credit to both Dowling and Iowa State, said John McCarroll, director of university relations. But Dowling’s decision came as a surprise to some.

“It was not public knowledge that he was being courted for a position,” said Carolyn Mabee, Dowling’s secretary.

Johnson said working so closely with Dowling may have given her a heads-up on the situation.

“It was not a huge surprise [to me],” Johnson said.

“It was a surprise to the university as a whole.”

Johnson said although Dowling is leaving she does not see that there will be a change or disadvantage to students.

“We’ve tried to put ‘student’ back in the name of ‘financial aid,’ ” she said.

Johnson said in the past the office has created many avenues for students to receive help. “Dowling leaving should have no affect on students’ abilities to receive aid or assistance,” she said.

Johnson, formerly the associate director of financial aid, will take over the position on Jan. 25.

Dowling and Johnson are currently serving jointly as director of financial aid. Johnson said working with Dowling has helped her make the transition to her new position.

“I am learning a lot of things really quickly. It almost feels like a new job, and the staff has just been phenomenal to work with,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she is not positive if she would like to be considered for the permanent replacement of the position.

“Interim is a great opportunity, but I have not made a decision yet.”

She said she is definitely considering the possibilities.

Johnson has been at Iowa State for 25 years. She began her career at Iowa State as a loan officer. For the last 20 years she has been working in the financial aid office.

Dowling, who McCarroll called a “nationally known expert on student financial aid” has served Iowa State for 15 years as the director of financial aid.

There will be a campus reception for Dowling in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union from 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 23. Everyone is invited to say farewell to Dowling.

“The only negative [thing about Dowling leaving] is that we are going to miss Earl,” McCarroll said.

Dowling was unable to be reached for comment.