
Over halfway through Sam Oliver Jr.’s initial college career, he hit a snag with financial aid. He was forced to leave the public university, and because the mistake left him with a balance owed to the college, he couldn’t get his transcript.
“So, after my junior year, I had to start all the way back over, and it was devastating. It took me years to get over that,” said Oliver, who has since earned his bachelor’s degree from DeVry University and is now pursuing a master’s in technical communication management at Mercer University. He also holds four associate degrees from Columbus Technical College. “I don’t want another student to go through that.”
Today, Oliver is executive director of student financial services and Title IV compliance at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Alabama. He’s spent almost a decade helping college students navigate financial aid, including two years at Mercer.
He was serving as associate director of financial planning and registrar services at the School of Medicine in Columbus when he was recognized in August as one of the top four honorees in Rural Leader Magazine’s 2024 40 Under 40. Every year, Rural Leader Magazine selects 40 outstanding individuals under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to rural communities in Georgia and neighboring states.
“Winning this award has been exciting and humbling,” Oliver said. “To me, I don’t do anything miraculous. I’m getting thanked for something I do every day.”
He said he takes pride in helping students navigate the complicated nature of higher education financing, and he understands the struggles students from rural communities face.


Oliver grew up in Richland, which has a population of about 1,400. He graduated from Stewart-Quitman High School (now Stewart County High School) in Lumpkin and participated in an Upward Bound program. The high school counselors did the best they could but often had limited resources, he said.
Now, he offers himself as a resource to his alma mater.
Oliver was nominated for Rural Leader Magazine’s 2024 40 Under 40 by former students he has helped over his career at multiple institutions.
One former student overcame many struggles to succeed in his studies. He started at Columbus Technical College, where, as a financial aid specialist, Oliver got to know the student. The student went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State, joined the military and is now working on an advanced degree.
“I’m just proud to be part of his story because he overcame a lot,” Oliver said. “Without financial aid, his story wouldn’t have been possible.”
Oliver said he still fields financial aid questions from the former student, even though they’re at different institutions.
As part of the School of Engineering’s technical communication management graduate program, Oliver is learning how to convey technical information in an understandable way. It helps him explain the intricacies of financial aid, which can be confusing and complicated to students.
“The stuff that I’m learning in the program can actually help me advance my financial aid career,” he said. “And it honestly has in the short amount of time that I’ve been in the program. Some of the stuff that I learned in previous semesters, helped me land the interview here at CV.”
Oliver started his new position at Chattahoochee Valley in September.
Katherine Lybarger, assistant director of marketing and communications at Mercer University School of Medicine, contributed to this story.