DeVos appointee charged with revamping federal student aid

So the beat goes on at the U.S. Department of Education, where Secretary Betsy DeVos has appointed A. Wayne Johnson to head federal student aid programs.

The appointment, announced Tuesday, is the latest development in DeVos' continuing campaign to revamp federal student aid policies.

DeVos said she wants to simplify the various loan programs but has offered few specifics.

No doubt, recent graduates struggling to juggle student loan debt will be watching closely as Johnson — who holds a Ph.D. in higher education leadership — undertakes her charge to “modernize” the student aid programs.

As head of the program that serves 42 million borrowers who owe a collective $1.4 trillion in student loan debt, Johnson is taking charge of the equivalent of one of the world's largest banks.

“He actually wrote the book on student loan debt and will bring a unique combination of CEO-level operating skills and an in-depth understanding of the needs and issues associated with student loan borrowers and their families,” DeVos said. “He will be a tremendous asset to the department as we move forward with a focus on how best to serve students and protect taxpayers.”

Debra Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. She can be reached at 412-320-7996, derdley@tribweb.com or via Twitter @deberdley_trib.