Agency Staff
Katie Harrison
Executive Director
Katie joined the Tuition Grants Commission as Deputy Director in 2009, after having previously worked as a financial aid administrator since 1998 in both Georgia and South Carolina. Katie was promoted to Executive Director in 2017. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Oglethorpe University and her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina. Katie is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Student Financial Administrators (SCASFAA). The Association honored her with the Emerging Leader Award (2010), the Achiever Award (2016), and the Fearless Nine Service to SCASFAA Award (2019), giving her the distinction of becoming the first member to earn all three of the Association’s awards. She has served SCASFAA as President and Secretary, in addition to volunteering for and chairing a number of committees since joining in 2002. She chaired the Association’s 50th Anniversary Conference in 2016. Katie has also represented the state of South Carolina on the Executive Board of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA) and continues to be an active member of that Association. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP) as Conference Co-Chair, and served as NASSGAP President in 2021-22. Katie holds the designation of Certified Information Privacy Professional, earned through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. In 2015, at the invitation of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Education Initiative, Katie represented the state of South Carolina at a FAFSA convening of higher education administrators from across the country, which was held at the White House.
Zachary Christian
Deputy Director
Zachary has been a member of the Tuition Grants Commission staff since November 2016. He first served as the agency’s Financial Aid Counselor and IT Director from November 2016 until April 2020, when he was promoted to Deputy Director. Prior to joining the Commission, Zachary was a Financial Aid Counselor at his Alma Mater, Winthrop University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Music and History. Zachary also earned a Database Analyst certificate from Midlands Technical College in 2017. Since joining the financial aid profession in 2014, Zachary has been an active member of the South Carolina Association of Student Financial Administrators (SCASFAA). The Association honored him with the Emerging Leader Award in 2018. Zachary has served the Association in various capacities since joining in 2015 and is currently serving as President for the 2023-2024 membership year. In addition to his involvement with SCASFAA, Zachary serves on the Executive Board of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA), representing South Carolina, and is an active member of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP). Outside of the Commission and professional association involvement, Zachary is an Adjunct Instructor at Midlands Technical College, teaching various database and other computer courses, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Palmetto Mastersingers.
Kira Demery
Program Coordinator
Kira Demery joined the Tuition Grants Commission staff on January 3, 2023.
An alumni of one of our own independent institutions of higher education, Kira earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Benedict College, and has a first-hand understanding of the importance of independent liberal arts education. Kira brings over 15 years of strong customer service and training experience in Retail and Banking to the Commission, after serving most recently as the Principal Trainer for Customer Support Staff at Publix. In her prior role, Kira built strong relationships with customers and employees alike, and advanced her store’s excellent reputation for outstanding customer service. As Program Coordinator, Kira is the primary contact at the Agency for students, parents, and our colleagues at the 22 participating colleges and universities. Kira is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SCASFAA), serving on the Conference Committee.
Gena Miles
Financial Officer
Gena was employed by the Tuition Grants Commission as a temporary employee in March of 1977 as a Data Entry Operator through the co-op work study program while attending the Business Education studies Department at Spring Valley High School. As a result of her exemplary job performance, the agency hired her as a permanent employee in August of 1977. Gena has assisted with many duties of the Commission throughout the years while observing the growth in the number of Tuition Grants recipients due to the importance of a quality education. Her studies of higher learning have included accounting and marketing at Columbia College and computer programming at Midlands Technical College. Gena is an active member of, and served four years as Secretary for, the Ladies Auxiliary of Lake Wateree VFW Post. She has been a member of the SC Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SCASFAA) since 1993 and in recent years, has been heavily involved in the charity fundraising efforts at the annual conferences. The Association honored Gena with the SCASFAA Achiever Award at the Fall 2020 Annual Conference for her outstanding service and contributions. She accepted her current position with the Tuition Grants Commission as the Financial Officer in 1990, a position in which she handles the financial operations of the Tuition Grants Commission, which includes communication with the State Treasurer’s Office, Comptroller General’s Office, State Budget Office, the State Auditor’s Office and financial aid officials of the participating colleges.