Brian Drabik

Bio

Brian joined Duke’s financial aid team in July 2026 as Associate Director of Graduate & Professional Financial Aid Compliance. A lifelong Chicagoland native and graduate of the University of Illinois, he came to Duke after spending 25 years in the financial aid office at Northwestern University.

You might say financial aid is something of a family business for Brian—his mother worked in financial aid before he did. Over the course of his career, Brian has developed a particular interest in federal student aid compliance, policy, and the unique challenges of administering financial aid for graduate and professional students. He is a Certified Financial Aid Administrator (FAAC®), has served as a peer reviewer for NASFAA’s Standards of Excellence program, and enjoys working with colleagues to translate complex federal requirements into policies and processes that make sense in practice.

Outside of financial aid, Brian and his partner share their Chicago home with four rescues—two dogs and two cats. He enjoys gardening, baking, and college sports. After earning his degree at Illinois and spending 25 years at Northwestern, he’s adjusting to life in ACC country after decades in the Big Ten, and happily adding Duke blue to his wardrobe.