Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships
Dr. Daniel Matamoros has served as the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships since January 2026. In this role, he supports institutional enrollment, retention, and financial wellness goals through financial aid and scholarship leadership and strategy, overseeing key initiatives and major projects designed to expand access to educational opportunities for all Volunteers.
Prior to joining the Division of Enrollment Management at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Matamoros served as Center Director for the Midtown Achievement Center for Boys in Chicago and as a Director Level Financial Aid Consultant with the Higher Education Assistance Group. In his previous roles at Loyola University Chicago as Associate Director and Assistant Director of Financial Aid, he managed multiple aid programs, including verification, appeals, athletic awards, and study abroad adjustments, and led student financial wellness initiatives, outreach, and training.
A FAAC® certified financial aid administrator through NASFAA, Dr. Matamoros has demonstrated continued professional growth and national engagement in the field, recertifying through 2028 and contributing to the profession through authorship, advocacy, and instruction. As the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships at UT, Dr. Matamoros is a key contributor to the creation of a positive educational experience for students by ensuring compliance with federal, state and institutional policies and shaping the university’s strategic vision for financial aid and scholarships.
Dr. Matamoros earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago and holds two master’s degrees: Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago, and Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Navarra. His scholarly research and service contributions emphasize mentorship and advocacy for underserved student populations, a passion that naturally aligns with the University of Tennessee’s access mission.
“I am driven by the belief that financial aid is not merely a transactional function, but a powerful form of service that can either remove barriers or unintentionally reinforce them. At UT Knoxville – where volunteerism, research, creativity, and student engagement are central to the institutional identity – I am inspired to model and lead in a way that will center care, transparency, and transformative partnership.”
Clifton Strengths: Achiever, Arranger, Learner, Woo, Activator.