RALEIGH, NC (May 22, 2025) – Mary Shuping, director of governmental and external affairs for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, was named executive director of the organization effective June 1 by UNC-System President Peter Hans last week.
Shuping has been serving in the role in an interim capacity following the departure of previous executive director Andrea Poole earlier this year.
“Mary is a sharp, effective advocate for North Carolina students and families,” Hans said. “At the community college system and at NCSEAA, she has championed smart reforms that made it easier to pay for college and access a life-changing education. She knows we’re here to serve students, and she brings that focus to her work every single day.”
Shuping is only the fifth executive director of the Authority since its inception in 1965. She will continue to guide the Authority in its administration of the many programs it offers to increase access to college as well as K-12 scholarships.
“Mary has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and dedication during her time here as director of governmental and external affairs and during her tenure as interim executive director,” said Jim Roberts, the chair of the NCSEAA board of directors. “Her commitment and passion for our mission is inspiring, and we are confident that she will continue to lead our agency forward reaching new milestones of success, with public service and promotion of educational opportunities for North Carolinians as a top priority.”
The Authority administers the state’s primary need-based scholarships for North Carolina. Last school year, the Authority awarded more than 104,000 grants and scholarships to students attending higher education, for a total of almost $260 million.
The Authority also manages the state’s forgivable loan programs, which offer forgivable loans for service to qualified students who are enrolling in education programs like nursing and teaching that are in high-demand in the state. Last year, the Authority awarded more than 2,500 of these loans for a total of more than $24 million. Additionally, students provided over 1,200 years of service to the State through the program, cancelling a year of loans for each year of service.
In addition to its higher education work, the Authority also operates the state’s K12 scholarship programs. The biggest of these, Opportunity Scholarships, offers K-12 students tuition and fees to attend private school. In addition, the Authority also administers the ESA+ scholarship for students with disabilities who require special education services.
“I look forward to continuing NCSEAA’s work to help make paying for an education more manageable for the state’s families and students,” Shuping said. “Education is the key to future success, and we are proud of helping to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the opportunities they need.”
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The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) is the state agency that has been helping North Carolinians pay for education since 1965. NCSEAA administers financial aid and savings programs, helps students and families understand how to make paying for college more manageable, and provides resources for education professionals about financial aid.