Leading with Buckeye pride and dedication
Amy Wheeler's ties to The Ohio State University run deep. Her commitment to helping students succeed fuels her dedication to helping students thrive.
“I guess you would say I was one of those folks who was just born to be a Buckeye,” Amy Wheeler says with a smile. Her grandfather graduated from Ohio State in 1938, and her aunts were Buckeyes. When it came time for her to choose a college, there was no question — it was Ohio State.
Now, as assistant vice provost for student financial success, Wheeler channels her Buckeye pride into simplifying the financial aid process to help students and their families. Her goal is clear: to provide undergraduate, graduate and professional students with the support and guidance they need to navigate financial resources and funding opportunities, helping them focus on what matters most — their education.
During her 24 years at Ohio State, Wheeler has held a range of positions within the university's financial aid office, each expanding her expertise and leadership.
She began her career in the former financial aid call center before becoming a financial aid counselor. Her dedication and growth through each role led to her promotion to assistant director, then associate director and eventually director of operations. Later, she served as interim and executive director, overseeing key transitions, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting students on their paths to success
She now leads the recently established area of student financial success, which unites Student Financial Aid and Buckeye Link under one umbrella. Buckeye Link is the university’s integral one-stop resource for financial aid, billing, registration, admissions and orientation inquiries.
“This new approach helps us work collaboratively and focus on engagement with the student, meeting them where they are and delivering what they need,” says Wheeler.
She’s particularly excited about new outreach opportunities, such as summer webinar sessions to help first-year students and their families navigate the complexities of funding their education.
“The financial aid process can be overwhelming,” says Wheeler. “We identified early on that providing educational resources like these webinars would be crucial in helping students understand the process, and the team moved quickly to make it happen.”
As one of the first initiatives of the newly unified student financial success area, the webinars provide essential information on how to apply for and accept financial aid, understand how awards apply toward costs, and explore additional funding opportunities — giving students the tools they need to navigate their financial journey early in their college experience.
Another key initiative Wheeler's team manages is the implementation of ScholarshipUniverse. This easy-to-use online scholarship-matching platform helps students better search and apply for internal and external financial aid. Initially launched with just two participating units, the tool is now used across nearly every college and regional campus at Ohio State. Thanks to its user-friendly design, which allows students to submit multiple applications seamlessly, the number of applications and the amount of funding awarded through the platform have significantly increased.
“We saw a 26% increase in the number of students submitting applications through ScholarshipUniverse from 2023-24 to 2024-25,” notes Wheeler, reflecting the tool's growing impact.
Additionally, the amount of funding awarded to students through ScholarshipUniverse increased by 90% during the same timeframe.
The ease and utility of ScholarshipUniverse is reflected in student feedback. As Wheeler shares, one student recently expressed her appreciation for the platform, calling it her “favorite technology tool at Ohio State,” highlighting its value to students.
Embracing opportunities and achieving more
Wheeler’s journey at Ohio State is defined by her commitment to student success, which she fosters by empowering her team to collaborate and make decisions that directly benefit students. She encourages staff to take risks, step outside their comfort zones and embrace new challenges, knowing that it leads to personal growth and a stronger student experience.
A key part of Wheeler's leadership is recognizing the impact of her team’s work. She regularly shares student feedback and thank-you notes, even when a staff member isn’t directly involved. This recognition motivates the team and reinforces the significance of their efforts in shaping students' experiences.
“It's so impactful to staff to see how important their work is and how much it changes lives,” she says.
For Wheeler, it all comes back to her passion for Ohio State.
“I love Ohio State; I love the work that we're doing. I love the university's focus on access and affordability, and that’s what drives my work and the work of our team.”
This commitment to the university’s values shapes her leadership style, keeping her team focused on the larger goal of supporting students. Wheeler’s advice for career success is simple but powerful: “Say yes to everything. It allows you to grow, take on new challenges, and make connections that can lead to future opportunities.”
This mindset — embracing new challenges and prioritizing continuous growth — has empowered Wheeler and her team to not only improve but also make a lasting impact on Ohio State.