Southern Association of Student Financial Aid … 2020...SASFAA 2020 Courage, Compassion,...

Courage, Compassion, Collegiality:

A Survivor’s Guide for Unchartered Waters

Southern Association of

Student Financial Aid Administrators

2020 Annual Conference

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February 9 - 12 , 2020

Hilton Norfolk The Main

Norfolk, Virginia

SASFAA 2020 ◊ Courage, Compassion, Collegiality: A Survivor’s Guide for Unchartered Waters

FEBRUARY 9-12 2 NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

Dear SASFAA,

Welcome aboard the SS SASFAA!

It is a pleasure to have you on board as we embark on

our cruise of the current and future financial aid seas.

Your cruise team has prepared an outstanding adventure

for you over the next few days that will leave you better

prepared to return to shore after experiencing inspiring

training and comradery.

Our theme this year is “Courage, Compassion,

Collegiality: A Survivor’s Guide for Uncharted Waters.”

This represents SASFAA’s Courage to stand for students in the legislative arena and on our campuses,

Compassion for the students who desperately need our help, and Collegiality for the way our members work

collectively for the good of students and the strong friendships we share. Regardless of the seas we face, we are

strong enough to endure and move forward.

Our Cruise Director, Joan Zanders, and her outstanding cruise staff have worked tirelessly to develop a program

that addresses the concerns and needs of the SASFAA membership. Their hard work has produced your exciting

cruise itinerary. Make sure to take every opportunity to explore all the Ports of Call on our journey. I want to

express my thanks and appreciation to Joan and her team for their tireless work and dedication to SASFAA!

Come on board! Enjoy the trip! Let’s set sail!

Bill Spiers

President

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME



Welcome to SASFAA Conference 2020 and to the great

Commonwealth of Virginia! The Conference Committee and SASFAA

Board hope you are arriving well rested! No time for that here in

beautiful, exciting Norfolk! The agenda is full of opportunities to learn

from your colleagues, network with friends and make new ones.

Because the area has so much to offer, we actually hope you have

carved out a few vacation days on either side of the conference to relax

and visit Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Virginia Beach—at

least some of the early history of our country and beauty of the area.

Conferences are hosted in many areas of the nation that provide

opportunities to expand our horizons if we just take time to embrace

them! Colonial Virginia provides an amazing in-depth look at the early

days of our country. If you are a Civil War buff, Virginia provides the jackpot of battlefields and historic sites to

visit. Wineries abound! If you drove from the west, take time to experience at least a piece of Skyline Drive

Scenic Highway in Shenandoah National Park along the top of the Appalachians on your way home. As a

transplant to Virginia and a lover of travel, I have tried to hit it all and have never failed to be amazed by these

mountains and prairies and oceans white with foam! I always learn something new and come away from each

experience with an even greater appreciation for the men and women who have come before us and for this

beautiful land from “sea to shining sea.”

“Courage, Compassion, Collegiality: A Survivor’s Guide for Uncharted Waters” seems a most appropriate

conference framework for the unsettled times in which we find ourselves. Those of us in the profession for a few

decades know it isn’t the first of such times--and it won’t be the last. Few of us grew up thinking, “My

professional goal in life is to become a Financial Aid Administrator”! What I’ve noticed through the years is that

one either loves it and stays or gets out as quickly as possible. What I have also noticed about the profession is

that Financial Aid Administrators care and support one another—which gives us reason to stay. We are unique

among higher education roles and associations because we rarely let competition interfere with our desire to help

each other as financial aid professionals.

There was a time when the Department of Education provided no training. We value our colleagues from the

Department, but they can’t control whether it will happen again. We need each other, and our professional

associations provide us a platform for training and support that has been constant. I, personally, would never have

stayed in the profession without the knowledge and confidence that I could contact a colleague for advice—or

participate in a training session and have that “ah ha” realization about one of our many “gray” and “sticky” areas

of aid administration. We are truly in this together!

Thank you for the hours, expertise and heart you have shared with students and colleagues this year! This will be

a wonderful conference because of the work and expertise of so many of your colleagues. If we are to maintain

our momentum and strength, it will take all of us committing to continue the work in the years to come. We hope

SASFAA Conference 2020 provides the instruction, discussion, depth, sharing, networking and support we all

need to go back to our institutions refreshed, rejuvenated, courageous, compassionate and confident that we’ve

got this—and that we are not in this alone!

Have a tremendous conference!

Joan Zanders, Chair

SASFAA Conference 2020

CONFERENCE CHAIR’S WELCOME



Ralph S. Northam Governor

February 9, 2020

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am pleased to welcome you all to the Southern

Association of Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA) Conference 2020. I am thrilled that Norfolk,

Virginia, was selected as the location of this year’s conference, and I know you will have a wonderful

time exploring our historic and prosperous Hampton Roads area.

As you all know, SASFAA is an organization of over 1,200 financial aid professionals working

in nine southern states who develop and promote best practices for those working in the financial aid

community. The theme of this year’s conference focuses on the principles of courage, compassion, and

collegiality, which are so important for those who make decisions about financial assistance eligibility.

As Governor, it is one of my top priorities to ensure that all Virginians have access to a good

education and the opportunity to pursue their goals both in their formal education and their career. I

commend the work that financial aid professionals do to ensure that more students have the chance to

pursue higher learning and build up their life.

Thank you for taking the time to enrich your contributions as a financial aid professional and I

commend you for all that you do to make the Commonwealth and our fellow southern states better

places to live.

I send my best wishes for a successful conference.

Sincerely,

Ralph S. Northam

Patrick Henry Building •1111 East Broad Street • Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804)

786-2211 • TTY (800) 828-1120 governor.virginia.gov



Greetings!

As Mayor of the City of Norfolk, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the Southern Association

of Student Financial Aid Administrators back to Norfolk for your 2020 Conference. Much has changed

since you were last here in 1999 so I encourage you to explore all our urban waterfront city has to offer.

In between scheduled events, board the Spirit of Norfolk cruise ship, take a ride on Norfolk’s light rail, or

stroll our walkable downtown where there is much to see and do. There are endless opportunities for

shopping, dining and leisurely activities, and we look forward to sharing our hospitality with each of you.

Norfolk is home to five colleges and universities, several foundations, and lending institutions

that work every day to provide postsecondary students with quality services. The Southern Association of

Student Financial Aid Administrators supports this critical function. Through its commitment to

professional development, network building, and promotion of effective financial aid policy and

programing, SASFAA contributes to the success of financial aid organizations and administrators

throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,

Tennessee, and Virginia. Together, we can help one another achieve our shared vision of enhanced

opportunities, equity and access for all students in higher education.

Thank you for once again choosing Norfolk. We are always honored to be your host and extend

best wishes for another productive and enjoyable conference.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D.

Mayor



Saturday February 8, 2020

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM SASFAA Board Meeting Ghent

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Mid-Level Administrators Preconference Workshop Day 1 Fusion

1:00 PM – Conference Committee Meeting 1783

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM President’s Appreciation Reception (By Invitation) Energy

Sunday February 9, 2020

TBA Breakfast (Board and Conference Committee) Varia

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Conference Registration Open Main Ballroom Foyer

4th Floor

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM Mid-Level Administrators Preconference Workshop Day 2, Breakfast in room Fusion

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM State Presidents-Elect Workshop Momentum

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM NASFAA U Credential Training: Consumer Information Granby ABC

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM NASFAA U Credential Training: Satisfactory Academic Progress Energy

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Sponsor/Charity Setup Main Ballroom Foyer

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Luncheon for Board, Conference Committee, Workshop Attendees Granby D

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Sponsor Area/Charity Booth Open Main Ballroom Foyer

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM VASFAA Hospitality Table Open Main Ballroom Foyer

1:30 PM – SASFAA Singers Rehearsal TBD

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Opening General Session Main Salon DE

Presentation of Colors: ROTC Color Guard, Old Dominion University

Keynote Address

National Anthem: SASFAA Singers

Susan B. Anthony: “Failure is Impossible”

Presentation of Charity, The Free Network (FL): Joan Zanders

4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Concurrent Sessions:

Session 1 WWYD: Professional Judgment - Income Appeals Granby ABC

Session 2 Over the Seas: Education Abroad Fusion

Session 3 Avoiding Common Audit Issues Through Clearinghouse Enrollment Reporting Best Practices

Granby D

Session 4 Custody v. Guardianship v. Ward of the Court v. Dependency Overrides Momentum

Session 5 Dealing with Difficult People Energy

Session 6 Clock Hour Round Table: Best Practices Ghent

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM President's Reception Main Salon ABC

AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE



Monday February 10, 2020

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Past Presidents’ Breakfast (By Invitation) Varia

7:30 AM – 8:45 AM Conference Registration/Sponsor Area/Charity Booth Open Main Ballroom Foyer

7:45 AM – 5:00 PM Conference Headquarters Open 1783

8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Continental Breakfast Main Salon DE

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM General Session Main Salon DE

Consumer Protection Issues in the Education Sphere

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Conference Registration/Sponsor Area/Charity Booth Open Main Ballroom Foyer

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM VASFAA Hospitality Table Open Main Ballroom Foyer

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Concurrent Sessions:

Session 1 Practical HR: Evaluations, Documentation & Other Lessons Learned Main Salon F

Session 2 NASFAA U Credential Training: Student Eligibility (Part 1) Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Preparatory v. Prerequisite v. Pre-Program Main Salon G

Session 4 WWYD - SAP Appeals & Best Practices Main Salon H

Session 5 Financial Literacy, Default Prevention and Enhanced Financial Aid

Counseling

Momentum

Session 6 Effective Communication Plans for Incoming and Current Graduate

Students

Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: AppWorx Automation with Ellucian Banner Fusion

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Concurrent Sessions:

Session 1 Navigating the Enrollment Management Waters...and Not Drowning! Main Salon F

Session 2 NASFAA U Credential Training - Student Eligibility (Part 2) Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 The 5 W's of Data Analytics Main Salon G

Session 4 FAO as Allies: Understanding and Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community Main Salon H

Session 5 Data Sharing and Cybersecurity Momentum

Session 6 Destination Proration (Clock Hour Focus) Energy

Session 7 Dilbert had it right: No one understands databases, but you can Fusion

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch and Learn Breakout Sessions:

Financial Aid Services Stop Rocking the Boat! (Working with Your Business Office) Paul D. Fraim

Ocelot The Top 5 Financial Aid Questions Asked by Students in 2019 (and the

Answers they Appreciated the Most!)

Main Salon G

Campus Logic How Financial Aid AI Boosts Completion Main Salon H

Blue Icon Advisors,

NASFAA Consulting

Establishing Your Personal Brand: Why Formulating and Maintaining a

Personal Brand is Crucial to Effective Leadership.

Momentum

Ivy.ai A Guide: How To Use AI To Improve The Student Experience Fusion

College Avenue Taking the Emotion Out of Graduate/Professional Student Loan Repayment Main Salon F

Inceptia Change the Way You Think About Verification Energy



1:45 PM – 2:45 PM General Session Main Salon DE

Verification and Conflicting Information in the New Tax World


Session 1 Restructuring the Financial Aid Office for Efficiency Main Salon F

Session 2 What You Need to Know: Filing Status & Who Must File (Tax Session) Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Legislative Advocacy Training Main Salon G

Session 4 Just Keep Swimming! The Importance of Mental Health in the Financial Aid

Profession

Main Salon H

Session 5 Rowing in the Same Direction: Understanding Business Office Challenges Momentum

Session 6 Clock Hour Basics Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: Query Writing & Uses in PeopleSoft Fusion

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM State Meetings

1. Alabama Fusion

2. Florida Salon F

3. Georgia Salon G

4. Kentucky Energy

5. Mississippi Ghent

6. North Carolina Paul D. Fraim

7. South Carolina Salon H

8. Tennessee Momentum

9. Virginia Imagination

5:30 PM – Last Call Dinner & Evening on Your Own with Colleagues

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Reception for Development Partners (By Invitation)

Tuesday February 11, 2020




7:45 AM – 8:45 AM VASFAA Hospitality Table Open Main Ballroom Foyer


It Takes Courage; Preventing Workplace Violence






Session 1 Workplace Violence Prevention Hands-on Workshop Main Salon F

Session 2 Cash Management: Institutional Charges Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Constructing your Policies and Procedures Manual Main Salon G

Session 4 Assets in the Need Analysis Main Salon H

Session 5 Business Etiquette & Manners Energy

Session 6 May I Help You: Ask a Colleague Stations

Topic Facilitator

Main Salon DE

1. Federal Work Study Celena Tulloss, University of Tennessee

2. Verification Sarah Baumhoff, Kennesaw State University

3. Reconciliation Wayne Kruger, St. Petersburg College

4. Compliance Heather Boutell, Vanderbilt University

5. Graduate/Professional Tony Sozzo, New York Medical College

6. Banner Lakisha Sanders, Clayton State University

7. PeopleSoft Mike Dugger, University of Florida


Session 1 Surviving R2T4 – Even with Modules Main Salon F

Session 2 Identifying Fraudulent Documents Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Tax Training: Introduction to Income Earned from Work and Untaxed

Income

Main Salon G

Session 4 FWS Management Best Practices Main Salon H

Session 5 Intersectionality: Understanding Student Identity and the Impact on Student

Services

Momentum

Session 6 Clock Hour R2T4 Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: Intro to SQL for Different SISs Fusion

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM SASFAA Awards Luncheon & Business Meeting Main Salon DE

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM Conference Registration/Sponsor Area/Charity Booth Open Main Ballroom Foyer


Session 1 SULA Reporting and Issues Main Salon F

Session 2 Open Forum: Top 10 Compliance Findings and Q & A Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Efficiency Session: Efficiency Explained...Efficiently! Main Salon G

Session 4 Institutional Challenges in Detecting Financial Aid Fraud Main Salon H

Session 5 Surviving the Changes: New Guidance in VA Certifications Momentum

Session 6 What the Heck is Gazpacho? The Hidden Challenges of First-Generation

Professionals

Energy

Session 7 Technology and Communications Fusion

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM Sponsor Area/Charity/VASFAA Hospitality Table Breakdown




Department of Education Update


Session 1 Directors' Roundtable & Listening Session Paul D. Fraim

Session 2 Tips & Tricks in Aid Processing for Beginners Main Salon F

Session 3 Identifying Fraudulent Documents Main Salon G

Session 4 When You Think You've Heard It All ("Stories" of FA) Main Salon H

Session 5 Likes + Clicks + Shares = Engagement. What strategies do you need to

employ to drive engagement across your social media channels?

Momentum

Session 6 Clock Hour SAP Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: CPOS Implementation for Banner Fusion

6:15 PM – 10:30 PM “Night at the Museum”

Join your colleagues for food, fellowship and fun at Nauticus, Norfolk’s world-

class maritime museum.

Wednesday February 12, 2020

8:15 AM – 9:15 AM Birds of a Feather Facilitator

1. Public Two-Year Lisanne Masterson, Blue Ridge Community College Salon A

2. Public Four-Year Anthony Jones, University of Georgia Salon B

3. Private Four-Year Brent Tener, Vanderbilt University Salon C

4. Proprietary Salon F

5. Graduate/Professional Tony Sozzo, New York Medical College Salon G

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Brunch and Closing General Session Main Salon DE

NASFAA Update

Presentation of Charity Donation

Announcement of Basket Winners

50/50 Drawing

Closing Business Meeting

Passing the Gavel - Bill Spiers to Celena Tulloss

2020-2021 Election Results

12:00 – 2:00 PM Conference Committee Debriefing 1783



CONFERENCE CENTER MAP

THIRD FLOOR



FOURTH FLOOR

(All General Sessions)

CONFERENCE CENTER MAP



Marjorie has always loved theater and has sought out training and

performance opportunities as early as elementary school. She has

participated in Master Classes, among other programs, at the Walnut Street

Theater School in Philadelphia and has studied improvisation with

practitioners at the highest levels. Marjorie majored in American Studies at

Grinnell College, graduating with Honors, and was also certified to teach

Social Studies to grades 6 – 12. After teaching history and social studies in

Chicago-area high schools, she went on to gain a Master’s degree and to

complete doctoral work in American and New England Studies at Boston

University. Marjorie was a Teaching Assistant in both the History and

English departments at B. U. and went

on to teach at Hunter College, Fordham

University, Cabrini College and

Philadelphia University. She was

pleased to be able to combine her interests in history and theater when she

was given the opportunity to portray suffragist Susan B. Anthony (1820-

1906). For over 20 years, Marjorie has brought Miss Anthony to audiences

throughout the tri-state area and to destinations as far-flung as Lansing,

Michigan, Oklahoma City and Greenville, South Carolina. Marjorie has been

certified as a docent at the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in

Rochester, New York, where she continues to do research as often as

possible.

Through her interpretation of Ms. Anthony, we are reminded that “The world

is not truly free…until the rights and privileges of others are free.” Therefore,

the task is ongoing and “failure is impossible.”

Quinn Martin is an attorney in the Division of Financial Practices at the Federal

Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. He investigates and litigates violations of

U.S. laws enforced by the Commission involving unfair or deceptive acts or practices

related to financial products or services. Mr. Martin has served as a staff attorney on

matters concerning illegal debt collection practices, lead generation, auto financing,

education, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Telemarketing Sales Rule

Act. Most recently, he was involved in the FTC’s settlement with Career Education

Corp. Mr. Martin earned his BA from the University of Florida and his JD from The

George Washington University Law School.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Marjorie Goldman (Susan B. Anthony)

Quinn Martin, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission



Robert’s background includes over a decade in senior financial aid roles at the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Babson College, and 13 years at College

Coach, the nation’s largest provider of college counseling services to corporate

America.

As a financial aid officer at MIT, Robert discovered a deep fascination with tax

returns and business structures, and the theory of need analysis. He is an expert in

college savings and education loan repayment strategies, and at College Coach, he

delivered hundreds of workshops to student and families who were getting ready to

save for or pay for college.

As Director of Training for Iron Bridge Resources for the last three years, Robert

has conducted dozens of tax trainings across the country for the financial aid

community.

He began conducting workshops for financial aid officers in 2015, and was selected by Jim Briggs, who pioneered

tax workshops for aid officers and delivered them for thirty years as Jim’s successor. Often introduced at

conferences and workshops as “the new Jim Briggs,” Robert is thrilled to carry out Jim’s legacy.

Katie Blanchard was born in Hartford, Wisconsin and raised in various areas

around the United States due to being a military brat. After high school she

competed for a nursing ROTC scholarship at Pacific Lutheran University and

graduated and commissioned into the Army in May 2013.

While serving in the U.S. Army Katie worked in both the inpatient and

outpatient settings including oncology, hospice, and officer in charge of

pediatrics.

Since a near fatal workplace violence attack in 2016, Katie has dedicated her

time to physically and mentally healing as well as advocating workplace

violence prevention. Katie is a full-time student at the University of

Washington in the Nursing Science PhD program as well as CEO and co-

owner of WPVsolutions that focuses on evidence-based interventions to

prevent workplace violence.

Robert Weinerman, Director of Training, Iron Bridge Resources

Katie Ann Blanchard, CEO, WPVsolutions

GUEST SPEAKERS



Jesse is working on her Master of Social Work degree through the

University of Kansas. She has spent the last few years working as a

Bridge Coordinator for a domestic violence agency. Here, she

advocated for victims who were in the hospital due to domestic

violence. She also worked on the intimate partner violence

committee to write hospital policies to better serve victims.

Currently, Jesse is completing a practicum at a low-income high

school in Independence, Missouri, where she provides advocacy and

therapy to students experiencing homelessness.

Justin Draeger is President and CEO of the National Association of

Student Financial Aid Administrators. He serves as the primary

voice of NASFAA and as the liaison between the association

members, the U.S. Congress, federal agencies and the media. Most

of Justin’s career has been devoted to assisting disadvantaged

populations achieve their educational goals and better their

communities. Since 2002, Justin has been engaged in either

administering, interpreting, communicating, or developing student

financial aid policy. His prior experiences include working as a

financial aid director, regulatory and policy analyst, and

spokesperson. He has held senior positions overseeing government

relations, communications, and policy work. Justin is frequently

quoted in the press and has appeared on The Today Show on NBC,

National Public Radio, APM’s Marketplace, Fox Business News,

CNBC, and C-SPAN, and is often quoted in national news outlets. Justin currently serves on the boards

of directors of Baker College, the Association Mutual Health Insurance Company, the Northwood

Education Foundation, and other organizations that promote health and education. He earned his

undergraduate from Brigham Young University and his MBA from Baker College. Justin lives in

Fairfax, VA with his wife and three children, where he spends his free time shuttling children to various

events, bicycling, motorcycling, playing racquetball, and running.

Jesse Milliken, Social Worker, University of Kansas

GUEST SPEAKERS

Justin Draeger, President and CEO, NASFAA



Paula Luff currently serves as the Interim Vice President for Enrollment

Management at DePaul University – the largest Catholic university in the

country with more than 22,000 students.

Paula is currently serving as National Chair for NASFAA (National

Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) and is a past president

of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

(MASFAA) and ILASFAA – the Illinois Association of Student Financial

Aid Administrators. She is a former member of the executive council of the

National Direct Student Loan Coalition, and has served as an alternate for

two separate Negotiated Rule Making teams.

Paula has more than thirty years of experience in financial aid and has held

positions at a variety of colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon

University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Loyola University

Chicago. She has presented on various financial aid topics at the state,

regional and national level for several professional organizations, including

NASFAA and The College Board.

Cynthia Hammond has been at the Department of Education for almost

20 years. In the past 9 years she has been working with Federal Student

Aid’s Office of Policy Liaison and Implementation and is currently the

Assistant Director of that office. Cynthia interacts with all areas of

Federal Student Aid on a daily basis, including Program Compliance

and NSLDS, as well as all areas of the Department including the Office

of Postsecondary Education, the Under Secretary’s office, and the

General Counsel’s office.

Paula Luff, Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management,

DePaul University and NASFAA National Chair

GUEST SPEAKERS

Cynthia Hammond, Assistant Director, Office of Policy Liaison and

Implementation, U.S. Department of Education



David Bartnicki has worked for the U.S. Department of Education’s

Federal Student Aid Office for over 25 years. He has served as an

Institutional Review Specialist, Institutional Improvement Specialist

(IIS), Branch Chief for Contract Compliance, Federal Training

Officer, and is currently a Program Specialist with the Office of Policy

Liaison and Implementation.

David’s entire government career has been in the Atlanta Regional

Office where he currently works with over 6,000 postsecondary

schools across the country. While in FSA, David has helped redesign

the FSA Assessment Modules, developed the popular “Ask A FED”

booth at the annual FSA Conferences, and developed the Department’s

compliance review process for ED’s private collection agencies.

In addition, David has received numerous financial aid awards including the 2012 SASFAA Distinguished

Service Award (Southern Regional). When not working, David enjoys spending time with his wife, Christy, and

sons Luke (20), Adam (19), and Ethan (15).

David Bartnicki, Program Specialist, Office of Policy Liaison and

Implementation, U.S. Department of Education

GUEST SPEAKERS



LEADERSHIP LEVEL

SPONSORS



ADVOCACY LEVEL



SUPPORT LEVEL



Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil

without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

— Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Each year, SASFAA chooses a charity to support during our conference. The Free Network, our 2020 charity, is a

501 (c)(3) non-profit headquartered in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. Their goals are to confront and combat

all forms of human trafficking and to empower victims to survive and thrive in their communities. All staff

members are volunteers. Through education, awareness, advocacy, legislation, and victim support, The Free

Network works tirelessly with local organizations to end human slavery. Worldwide, over twenty-four million

men, women and children are in bondage to criminals who profit by using them for labor and sexual

exploitation.

To raise funds for The Free Network, SASFAA is depending on states and individuals to donate baskets and

additional items for auction and to participate in our split the pot and other fundraising options throughout the

conference. Help make this the highest charity total ever!

The Free Network www.freenetwork.us/who-we-are

CHARITY INFORMATION



Saturday February 8, 2020

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM SASFAA Board Meeting Ghent

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Mid-Level Administrators Preconference Workshop Day 1 Fusion

1:00 PM – Conference Committee Meeting 1783

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM President’s Appreciation Reception (By Invitation) Energy


TBA Breakfast (Board and Conference Committee) Varia

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Conference Registration Open Main Ballroom Foyer

4th Floor

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM Mid-Level Administrators Preconference Workshop Day 2, Breakfast in room Fusion

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM State Presidents-Elect Workshop Momentum

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM NASFAA U Credential Training: Consumer Information

Presenter | Dana Kelly, VP of Professional Development and

Institutional Compliance, NASFAA

Granby ABC

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM NASFAA U Credential Training: Satisfactory Academic Progress

Presenter | Aria Simmonds, Director of Financial Aid, Georgia State

University

Presenter | Stephanie Miller, Interim Director of Financial Aid, Central

Alabama Community College

Energy

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Sponsor/Charity Setup Main Ballroom Foyer

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Luncheon for Board, Conference Committee, Workshop Attendees Granby D

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Sponsor Area/Charity Booth Open Main Ballroom Foyer

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM VASFAA Hospitality Table Open Main Ballroom Foyer

1:30 PM – SASFAA Singers Rehearsal TBD

FULL AGENDA




3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Opening General Session Main Salon DE

Presentation of Colors | ROTC Color Guard, Old Dominion University

Keynote Address

National Anthem | SASFAA Singers

Susan B. Anthony: “Failure is Impossible”

Susan B. Anthony has been portrayed as a dour Quaker school “marm,” but in

reality, this important suffragist had a lively sense of humor and a passion for

justice. After teaching for fifteen years, Ms. Anthony began her 50+ years’

commitment to causes that included the abolition of slavery, women’s rights to

their own property and earnings, and women’s right to vote, demonstrating a will

unbroken by circumstance or obstacle. When the suffragist movement was

threatened by an ideological split, it was Ms. Anthony who engineered the

reunion of the two factions. Near the end of her life, Ms. Anthony hand-selected

the women who were to “pick up the mantle,” urging her successors to be ever-

vigilant, expanding and protecting the rights for which she had fought so long

and valiantly. “We turn it over to a generation of women who are better-

equipped. They have the unchallenged right to speak in public.” Ms. Anthony did

not live to see women’s suffrage, but she knew not to give in, not to give up.

Presenter | Marjorie Goldman

Presentation of Charity, The Free Network (FL): Joan Zanders

Fund-Raising Opportunities for The Free Network (State Baskets, Donated

Items, Split the Pot)


Session 1 WWYD: Professional Judgment - Income Appeals

Join us for an interactive and fun session on income appeals. After reviewing the basics, we will offer real-case scenarios and possible approaches you might take, utilizing audience input and discussion. Presenter | Lisanne Masterson, Director of Financial Aid, Blue Ridge

Community College

Presenter | Brad Barnett, Financial Aid Director, James Madison

University

Moderator | Amy Berrier, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Granby ABC

Session 2 Over the Seas: Education Abroad

How much aid can I receive for a study abroad program? Can I use my Pell

Grant for study abroad? As a faculty member, can I add a study abroad

component to my spring course? Have you been presented with these and

other questions about education abroad? The presentation will cover the

basics of awarding financial aid for a wide range of education abroad

opportunities.

Presenter | Scott Miller, Director of Financial Aid, University of Virginia

Presenter | Oshae Berry, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, University

of Virginia

Moderator | Brenda Pittman, William Carey University

Fusion



Session 3 Avoiding Common Audit Issues Through Clearinghouse Enrollment Reporting Best Practices

This session will provide an overview of common enrollment reporting audit issues schools encounter. We will provide an overview of the support the Clearinghouse provides schools including guidance to ensure separation statuses are reported correctly and in a timely manner and making sure NSLDS errors are resolved appropriately. We will also review the NSLDS’s Enrollment Statistics process, provide hints and tips for improving the score the NSLDS calculates for your institution and review recent guidance from FSA and what it means to institutions. We will also look at compliance best practices and suggestions for areas of cooperation between the Registrar and Financial Aid offices to ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements.

Presenter | Jennifer Hedrick Castrovinci, Audit Resource Center

Specialist, National Student Clearinghouse

Moderator | Heidi Goldsworthy, Financial Aid Services

Granby D

Session 4 Custody v. Guardianship v. Ward of the Court v. Dependency Overrides

Some of the most confusing FAFSA questions for students, especially those for whom financial aid can make or break college-going decisions, are related to dependency. In this session we will explore the appropriate answers to these questions and discuss how financial aid administrators can help students whose situations may not fit neatly into one of those scenarios.

Presenter | Tarik Boyd, Director of Financial Aid, Morehouse College

Presenter | Brad Scaggs, Associate Director of Operations and

Compliance, Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Moderator | Sarah Dowd, Trident Technical College

Momentum

Session 5 Dealing with Difficult People

Difficult People. We all have worked alongside them, experienced them in passing, or worked for and/or supervised them. We know that challenging individuals will always be part of our lives. What are the various personality types of these people? Since it is impossible to change someone else, what are strategies to cope and control what you can control? This will be a fast-paced and interactive session.

Presenter | Heather Boutell, Director of Financial Aid, Vanderbilt

University School of Medicine

Presenter | Brent Tener, Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships,

Vanderbilt University

Moderator | Nicole Brownlow, Trident Technical College

Energy

Session 6 Clock Hour Round Table: Best Practices

This session has experienced clock hour financial aid representatives ready

to answer your questions from the simplest to the most complicated. These

experienced individuals represent several areas of our SASFAA region and

bring with them many years of experience. Get your questions ready and

come join us. Questions may be provided prior to the session by emailing

Kim Phillips at [email protected].

Presenter | Kim Phillips, Financial Assistance Counselor, St.

Petersburg College

Ghent

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM President's Reception Main Salon ABC




7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Past Presidents’ Breakfast (By Invitation) Varia





Consumer Protection Issues in the Education Sphere

FTC staff attorney Quinn Martin will cover common consumer protection issues in

the education sphere. Unfortunately, scams targeting prospective and current

post-secondary students are on the rise. This session will look at past FTC

enforcement actions that shed light on how students can be better equipped to

deal with bad actors and avoid predatory scammers.

Presenter | Quinn Martin, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission

Moderator | Biz Daniel, Great Lakes Higher Education Guarantee

Corporation




Session 1 Practical HR: Evaluations, Documentation & Other Lessons Learned

This session will look at the legal and organizational significance of

employee performance evaluations and related documentation, including:

trends and new directions, pitfalls to avoid and practical tips for success, and

random observations and lessons learned from the General Counsel’s office.

Presenter | William Mullowney, VP for Policy and General Counsel,

Valencia College

Moderator | Brenda Brown, College Aid Services LLC.

Main Salon F

Session 2 NASFAA U Credential Training: Student Eligibility (Part 1)



Moderator | Tracy Morgan, University of South Florida

Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Preparatory v. Prerequisite v. Pre-Program

A review and overview of how to determine if a course is applicable to a

current major/degree and how to determine what Title IV aid can be awarded

based on those enrolled classes.

Presenter | Wayne Kruger, Executive Director of Financial

Assistance Operations, St. Petersburg College

Moderator | Dick Smelser, Pellissippi State Community College

Main Salon G



Session 4 WWYD - SAP Appeals & Best Practices

The expression "Is the glass half-full or half-empty?" has for many years highlighted the tendency for two people to see the same situation in different ways. While that adage could be applied to just about everything in financial aid, it especially holds true for SAP appeal decisions. Somewhere it is written that professional judgment and SAP appeal decisions are more art than science. Come to this panel discussion of real-life SAP appeal examples. The audience will be asked to weigh in on “What would you do” via cellphone or tablet online polling.

Presenter | Reed Allison, Director of Financial Aid, Chattanooga State Community College

Presenter | Tom Kinback, Associate Director of Financial Aid for

Campus Operations, Northern Virginia Community

College

Presenter | Keshia Woodous, Assistant Director of Client Services,

Norfolk State University

Moderator | Maria Hammett, Mercer University

Main Salon H

Session 5 Financial Literacy, Default Prevention and Enhanced Financial Aid Counseling

This session will highlight two peer-based financial literacy programs.

Attendees will also learn about default prevention and enhanced loan

practices designed to reduce student borrowing and the cohort default rate.

Presenter | Dameion Lovett, Campus Director of Financial Aid,

University of South Florida at Tampa

Presenter | Kathy Suarez, Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Services, Valencia College

Moderator | Sherika Charity, J Sargeant Reynolds Community

College

Momentum

Session 6 Effective Communication Plans for Incoming and Current Graduate Students

Effectively communicating with students is ever evolving, and fostering

relationships begins when students first interview and continues through

enrollment and past graduation. However, the ways we now engage and

teach students have changed. This session will explore how best to reach

today's students and future graduates.

Presenter | Tony Sozzo, Associate Dean of Student Affairs &

Director of Student Financial Planning, New York Medical

College

Moderator | Patricia Kerney, University of South Florida – Health

Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: AppWorx Automation with Ellucian Banner

This session explores how Appalachian State University has leveraged

Automic's AppWorx job scheduler to automate a vast number of routine

financial aid processes. Examples will be provided along with an overview of

a few custom processes that have been developed to improve the timeliness

and efficiency of remedial tasks.

Presenter | Jonah Miller, Associate Director of Student Financial Aid,

Technology & Business Systems Development, and Banner

Lead, Appalachian State University

Fusion





Session 1

Navigating the Enrollment Management Waters...and Not Drowning!

Want to learn how to navigate the opportunities (and challenges!) of working

in an enrollment management environment? This session will address

various topics that impact the financial aid director and the office such as net

tuition revenue, financial aid leveraging, contributions to rankings and

metrics, need vs. merit aid, and why you should have a seat at the table!

Presenter | Billie Jo Hamilton, AVP Enrollment Planning and

Management, University of South Florida

Moderator | Jill Towns, Georgia Military College

Main Salon F

Session 2 NASFAA U Credential Training - Student Eligibility (Part 2)



Moderator | Tracy Morgan, University of South Florida

Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 The 5 W's of Data Analytics

Data is used to measure, predict and change outcomes. Before data can be

used to transform, it has to be collected. In this introductory session on using

data to transform processes, we will explore how to use Pareto charts to

identify problems and the 5 W’s to build a data collection plan.

Presenter | James Blackburn, AVP Student Financial Services,

Georgia State University

Moderator | Robert Muhammad, Winton-Salem State University

Main Salon G

Session 4 FAO as Allies: Understanding and Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

They say you never truly understand a person until you’ve walked a mile in

their shoes. According to surveys completed by the Association of American

Universities, roughly 20% of LGBTQ+ college students fear for their physical

safety on-campus due to their gender identity or perceived sexual orientation.

With Higher Education becoming more accessible to students from all walks

of life, it is important to be aware of the concerns and issues many students

face based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This session

will provide information on how to better assist students and/or their parents

who identify as LGBTQ+, walk participants through the coming out process

and will promote an open and safe dialogue. (This session will include

additional information than provided in the Fall Webinar – all are encouraged

to attend!)

Presenter | Zachary Christian, Financial Aid Counselor & IT Director,

South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants

Commission

Moderator | Leigh Ann Hussey, University of West Georgia

Main Salon H



Session 5 Data Sharing and Cybersecurity

Institutions of higher education house vast amounts of confidential student

and parent data. Robust and compliant cyber security and data privacy

policies and practices are increasingly vital as external threats become more

aggressive and common. We will discuss the applicable regulatory

requirements that apply to colleges and universities, including identifying and

reporting data breaches, student data sharing, and practical compliance

solutions.

Presenter | Rebecca Flake, Sr. Advisor of Higher Education

Services, Cooley, LLP

Moderator | Traci Singleton, The Citadel Military College

Momentum

Session 6 Destination Proration (Clock Hour Focus)

This session will guide you on when and how to prorate Title IV funds for your students. It will mainly focus on the clock-hour programs proration and will contain several program examples. If you could use a little (or a lot) of guidance when it comes to prorating funds this is the session for you.

Presenter | Trudy Bell (Plunkett), Executive Director of FA Operations, FA Solutions

Moderator | Kim Phillips, St. Petersburg College

Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: Dilbert had it right: No one understands databases, but

you can

All of us use databases every day. But we often don’t understand how they

work, how they are structured, and why our population selections don’t give

us the results we want. It doesn’t matter if you use Banner, Peoplesoft,

WorkDay, PowerFAIDS, or CampusVue, this session is for you! We will

explore primary and secondary keys, database table relationships, the one-

to-many conundrum, and parent and child relationships. By the time you

leave, you will better understand why your student information system is built

the way it is, and be able to answer the question of what color is your

database.

Presenter | Daniel Barkowitz, AVP Financial Aid and Veterans’

Affairs, Valencia College

Fusion

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch and Learn Breakout Sessions:

Financial Aid Services Stop Rocking the Boat! (Working with Your Business Office)

A good working relationship between financial aid and student

accounts/bursar’s staff is key to providing the best services to students. This

interactive session will explore some of the differences between your roles,

and how to improve coordination and overcome points of contention. Come

prepared to share your experiences (good and bad) and insights. To provide

the business officer’s perspective, the discussion will be led by an

experienced bursar and a retired NACUBO staffer who are active with the

new Student Business Services (SBS) division of FAS.

Presenter | Anne C. Gross, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs,

National Association of College and University

Business Officers (retired) and Consultant, Financial Aid

Services

Presenter | Katherine Jewett, Consultant, Financial Aid Services

Paul D. Fraim



Ocelot The Top 5 Financial Aid Questions Asked by Students in 2019 (and the Answers

they Appreciated the Most!)

This session will share lessons and data learned by Ocelot from thousands

of Artificially Intelligent Chatbot interactions with students across hundreds of

colleges over the past year. Learn the top questions students are asking

their school chatbots around paying for college, 1098-Ts, SAP, scholarships,

loans, and debt. We will review the best responses developed by schools to

answer these key questions. And we will show how schools are integrating

chatbots into their workflow processes to augment human advising and

promote greater student success.

Presenter | Dan Dreves, Sales and Marketing, Ocelot

Presenter| Max Shure, Senior Vice President of School Partnerships,

Ocelot

Main Salon G

Campus Logic How Financial Aid AI Boosts Completion

36 million people in the U.S. have earned some college credit but no degree.

Estimates suggest most of those hold student loan debt. Personalized,

timely advising is a crucial intervention point that can keep students moving

toward completion--but 40% of staff say they spend too little time

communicating with parents and students. It’s not for lack of trying. Students

have questions 24/7 and they don’t have time to come to campus to stand in

line with their questions. Add distance, time, and language barriers and it all

gets even harder. Artificial intelligence (AI) for financial aid meets everyone

where they are—and keeps you in control of the information. Virtual advising

goes beyond bots by seamlessly utilizing data in your systems and providing

students with information relevant and customized to individual needs. A

wealth of financial aid knowledge paired with AI capabilities will engage your

students and answer complex financial aid questions in real time, effectively

freeing you up to spend more time on high-needs counseling.

Presenter | Michael Parrish, Regional Director, Campus Logic

Main Salon H

Blue Icon Advisors,

NASFAA Consulting

Establishing Your Personal Brand: Why Formulating and Maintaining a

Personal Brand is Crucial to Effective Leadership.

Financial Aid Administrators face competing priorities every day. What should

you focus on first? Establishing your personal brand is critical to your

success. Join this practical session to learn and take action on how to

position yourself and your work for success and recognition.

Presenter | Tony Erwin, Principal Consultant, Blue Icon Advisors, NASFAA Consulting

Momentum

Ivy.ai A Guide: How To Use AI To Improve The Student Experience

Presenter | Mary Frances Coryell, VP of Sales & Business

Development, Ivy.ai

Presenter | Sharon Harrison, Regional Sales Manager, Ivy.ai

Presenter | Celena Tulloss, Senior Associate Director of Financial

Aid & Scholarships, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Fusion



College Avenue

Student Loans

Taking the Emotion Out of Graduate/Professional Student Loan Repayment

Debt is rough on anyone — especially for recent graduate/professional students starting their careers and trying to establish a sound financial footing. There can be advantages and disadvantages to student loan repayment options, but like any large financial transaction, the best approach is to take emotion out of the decision with facts and clear easy to follow advice. Graduate/professional students with high debt and multiple loans have a lot of questions about repayment.

• What is the ideal student loan repayment option?

• Should I consolidate or refinance?

• If I do refinance, should I go with a fixed or variable rate?

• Does my credit score effect my loan repayment?

• Will I qualify?

• How much debt will I end up with?

And the answer is usually….it depends. In this session, we will provide advice on how to guide graduates through the myriad of available options. Come and learn about repayment details for federal and private loans, the information students should consider when determining whether to refinance, and the details of how to go about it.

Presenter | Bill Ayers, Head of Campus Development, College Avenue Student Loans

Presenter | Glenn Chance, Head of Campus Development, Mid-South States, College Avenue Student Loans

Main Salon F

Inceptia Change the Way You Think About Verification

Create a fundamental change in your financial aid office with Verification

Gateway from Inceptia - verification project assistance that uncomplicates the

process and frees time for you and your team to give the personal touch to

your students instead of pushing paper around them. Verification Gateway,

our verification process for students and parents, is an intuitive, automated

solution to gather information and documentation required to verify students

for Federal Financial Aid. VG uses smart technology to collaboratively sense,

adapt, and provide students and parents with precise requirements to

expedite information and documentation submissions; reducing conflicting

information by collecting only what is required. Plus, if they have any

questions, there is a counselor just a phone call away to help. Join us for a

live demo to see the difference VG can make in how you think about

verification.

Presenter | Shannon Jones, Assistant Vice President, Business

Development, Inceptia

Presenter | Matt Nettleton, Assistant Vice President, Business

Development, Inceptia

Energy





Verification and Conflicting Information in the New Tax World

The 2018 tax forms and tax code are finally a reality for financial aid officers! In this session, we will review the ways these forms have changed the way we work. We'll look at the students most likely to be impacted by the tax code changes who are most likely to see changes in their EFCs and financial aid eligibility. We'll cover non-intuitive changes to the tax forms themselves, and how to tell if Form 1040 is enough - or if you also need Schedules 1, 2, and/or 3. We'll review the new tax-form based qualification requirements for the Simplified EFC Formula and the Automatic Zero EFC. And for those of you who use 2019 tax forms as PJ documentation, we'll even look at how changes to the tax code in 2019 may impact your income adjustment professional judgment reviews.

Presenter | Robert Weinerman, Director of Training, Iron Bridge

Resources

Moderator | Zita Barree, Hampden-Sydney College


Session 1 Restructuring the Financial Aid Office for Efficiency

A panel discussion about identifying the needs of your institution and aligning your staff to meet those needs. Examples from schools who have worked to determine staff strengths and weakness, to utilize skills where they fit best.

Presenter | Tyler Smith, Associate Director of Niner Central, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Presenter | Tarik Boyd, Director of Financial Aid, Morehouse College

Presenter | Celena Tulloss, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Moderator | Dameion Lovett, University of South Florida

Main Salon F

Session 2 What You Need to Know: Filing Status & Who Must File (Tax Session)

The Department of Education states that financial aid administrators are not required to be tax experts but should have a lay-person’s understanding of tax issues that can “considerably affect the need analysis”. In this session, we will cover two of the tax issues the Department requires you to understand: whether a person was required to file a tax return and what the correct filing status for a person should be. We will cover the basic tax facts but will focus on the tough situations with a goal of learning how we can resolve even the most difficult situations to the Department’s satisfaction.


Resources

Moderator | Michelle Standridge, Spalding University

Paul D. Fraim



Session 3 Legislative Advocacy Training

This session is designed to provide training for those interested in Legislative Advocacy. Understanding the Legislative Life Cycle including: What is Advocacy; Who Can Be an Advocate; and Where, When, Why and How Do We Advocate, will be the focus of the presentation. Anyone interested in participating in legislative advocacy should attend.

Presenter | Ron Gambill, Chairman/CEO, Edsouth

Presenter | Robert Muhammed, Director of Financial Aid, Winston-

Salem State University

Presenter | Will Shaffner, Director of Business Development and

Government Relations, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority

Moderator | Robert Muhammed, Winston-Salem State University

Main Salon G

Session 4 Just Keep Swimming! The Importance of Mental Health in the Financial Aid Profession

Constantly changing regulations, questions from students and families, school administration demands, staff morale - how do we juggle all of these often competing demands and maintain a commitment to self-care? We hear much about devoting proper attention to our physical health during times of stress; what about attending to our mental health during especially busy times? This presenter will describe how life got suddenly interrupted by a major depression from too many competing life demands and how he has transformed through lessons of recovery that guide him on a new and improved life journey.

Presenter | Philip Hawkins, Director of Financial Aid, The George

Washington University Law School

Moderator | Joe Dobrota, College of William and Mary

Main Salon H

Session 5 Rowing in the Same Direction: Understanding Business Office Challenges

You and your counterparts in the business office are in the same boat but are you going the same way? What would they like you to understand about their roles and responsibilities? How do you impact each other’s work and where is there room for improvement? Gain a better understanding of how student accounts are managed (i.e., billing and collections), the counseling provided, the importance of timely financial aid disbursements and adjustments, and the internal pressures on the bursar’s office. The importance of strong communications, and coordination of messaging, between the staff and with students and parents will be emphasized. This session will build on the discussion at an earlier Lunch and Learn, but newcomers are welcome.

Presenter | Anne C. Gross, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, National Association of College and University Business

Officers (retired) and Consultant, Financial Aid Services

Presenter | Katherine Jewett, Consultant, Financial Aid Services

Moderator | Stephanie Miller, Central Alabama Community College

Momentum



Session 6 Clock Hour Basics

If you are new to clock hour programs or just want a refresher, then come to this session where we will explore key definitions, clock hour payment periods, and important aspects of Pell and DL calculations. We will focus on the unique aspects of administering Title IV aid in a clock hour environment.

Presenter | David Bartnicki, Program Specialist, Office of Policy Liaison and Implementation, U.S. Department of Education


Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: Query Writing & Uses in PeopleSoft

This session will introduce PeopleSoft Query manager/viewer. We will provide some beginner query training, tips and tricks for writing queries and some unique uses for query in PeopleSoft. Some live demonstrations of writing a query will be done. If time persists we will start to dive into some advanced query concepts as well.

Presenter | Mike Dugger, Senior Associate Director, University of

Florida

Presenter | Wayne Kruger, Executive Director of Financial

Assistance Operations, St. Petersburg College

Fusion

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM State Meetings

1. Alabama Fusion

2. Florida Salon F

3. Georgia Salon G

4. Kentucky Energy

5. Mississippi Ghent

6. North Carolina Paul D. Fraim

7. South Carolina Salon H

8. Tennessee Momentum

9. Virginia Imagination

5:30 PM – Last Call Dinner & Evening on Your Own with Colleagues

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Reception for Development Partners (By Invitation)





7:45 AM – 8:45 AM VASFAA Hospitality Table Open Main Ballroom Foyer





It Takes Courage; Preventing Workplace Violence

Be at the forefront of a paradigm shift. Violence has unfortunately become a

workplace norm, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to identify high risk

situations and behaviors, leadership techniques, comprehensive policy

making, and risk identification that can keep your workplace safer.

Prevention-not reaction!

Presenter | Katie Blanchard, CEO, WPVsolutions

Presenter | Jesse Milliken, Social Worker, University of Kansas

Moderator | Joan Zanders, Northern Virginia Community College




Session 1 Workplace Violence Prevention Hands-on Workshop

Take a hands-on approach to learning workplace violence prevention

through interactive case studies, transformational leadership building,

and group navigated workplace violence scenarios.

Presenter | Katie Blanchard, CEO, WPVsolutions

Presenter | Jesse Milliken, Social Worker, University of Kansas

Moderator | Joan Zanders, Northern Virginia Community College

Main Salon F

Session 2 Cash Management: Institutional Charges

This session will focus on institutional charges and how they affect your

administration of the Title IV Programs. We will explain what an

institutional charge is, describe when you can credit Title IV funds to a

student’s account to pay for such charges, and provide examples for how

to prorate institutional charges that are intended for a period longer than

a payment period. We will also explain your responsibilities when a

student has a Title IV credit balance, including when you must provide a

way for the student to obtain books and supplies in a timely manner.

Presenter | David Bartnicki, Program Specialist, Office of Policy

Liaison and Implementation, U.S. Department of

Education

Moderator | Kamesia House, Fayetteville State University

Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Constructing your Policies and Procedures Manual

Does the thought of updating your Policies and Procedures Manual

make you shudder? This session will explore strategies, tools, and

resources for creating, organizing, updating, and maintaining a dynamic

Policies and Procedures Manual.

Presenter | Nicole Brownlow, Associate Director of Financial Aid,

Trident Technical College

Moderator | Danette Seale, Carson Newman University

Main Salon G



Session 4 Assets in the Need Analysis

Have you read the Application and Verification Guide's description of the

value of a trust? Do you understand it? Do you know when a 529 plan

should be reported on the FAFSA, and when it should be left off? What

about the value of rental property that is worth less than its mortgage? In

this session, participants will get a refresher on the asset reporting rules,

with an emphasis on those that are most confusing to aid officers, and

hints about how to identify and resolve conflicting information related to

the asset side of the need analysis.


Resources

Moderator | Aria Simmonds, Georgia State University

Main Salon H

Session 5 Business Etiquette & Manners

Will Rodgers was spot on when he said, “You never get a second

chance to make a first impression.” Think of all the people you’ve met in

your professional life and consider that many of their recollections are

still based on that first meeting. Possibly, that image is a firm

handshake, a warm greeting, or prompt helpful email reply; conversely,

imagine if they recall a noodle handshake, a brushoff or never receiving

a response to their email. Business etiquette and manners have much to

do with the Golden Rule - treat others as you would want to be treated.

This session will guide SASFAA members through the most mannerly

ways to engage with students, families (including your own), colleagues,

and fellow conference attendees. Topics will include but will not be

limited to:

• Appropriate greeting and handshake

• Proper introductions – “How would I introduce Queen Elizabeth II to my sister-in-law?”

• Dining etiquette – conference luncheon

• Writing thank-you notes

• Rules for effective business/email/phone correspondence

• Mastering polite conversation

• Diffusing difficult situations in a mannerly way

Presenter | Bill Ayers, Head of Campus Development, College

Avenue Student Loans

Moderator | Stephanie Miller, Central Alabama Community College

Energy

Session 6 May I Help You: Ask a Colleague Stations

Topic Facilitator

Main Salon DE

1. Federal Work Study Celena Tulloss, University of Tennessee

2. Verification Sarah Baumhoff, Kennesaw State University

3. Reconciliation Wayne Kruger, St. Petersburg College

4. Compliance Heather Boutell, Vanderbilt University

5. Graduate/Professional Tony Sozzo, New York Medical College

6. Banner Lakisha Sanders, Clayton State University

7. PeopleSoft Mike Dugger, University of Florida





Session 1 Surviving R2T4 – Even with Modules

Do you have the courage to navigate the uncertain waters of R2T4

calculations? This session will provide a general overview of Return to

Title IV requirements, and a survivor’s guide to navigating R2T4 with

modules.

Presenter | Katie Conrad, Senior Associate Director of Financial

Aid, Florida International University

Moderator | Sarina Babb, University of South Florida

Main Salon F

Session 2 Identifying Fraudulent Documents

Doug Comfort is a detective with the Fairfax County Police Department

and a nationally-known expert on identifying fraudulent documents. Lest

you think you “don’t have a problem”, come listen and learn. Detective

Comfort has a way of turning a very serious topic into a fun learning

experience.

Presenter | Doug Comfort, Detective, Fairfax County Police

Department

Moderator | Nichele Inboden, Northern Virginia Community College

Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Tax Training: Introduction to Income Earned from Work and Untaxed

Income

In this session, we will review the guidance around some FAFSA data

elements that are included in the need analysis but not verification items

for tax filers. This will include a review of the regulations around income

earned from work – including foreign earned income, business losses,

and income that is treated as wage income on in the tax code but is not,

in fact, earned income. We will also look at the untaxed income FAFSA

questions, and review what kinds of income are reportable, and what

kinds of income are excluded from the need analysis.


Resources

Moderator | Jill Towns, Georgia Military College

Main Salon G

Session 4 FWS Management Best Practices

Two institutions will share information about their experiences with FWS.

This session will take a look at common practices and struggles

managing the FWS program as well as audit or program review findings.

They will share steps taken to correct findings and improve management

of the FWS program

Presenter | Celena Tulloss, Senior Associate Director of Financial

Aid, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Presenter | Reed Allison, Director of Financial Aid, Chattanooga

State Community College

Moderator | April Tretter, Bellarmine University

Main Salon H



Session 5 Intersectionality: Understanding Student Identity and the Impact on Student

Services

Intersectionality is defined as “the interconnected nature of social

categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given

individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent

systems of discrimination or disadvantage”. In this session, we will

explore facets of our own identities through a personal exercise,

participate in a privilege walk to understand the multiple nuances of

identity, and discuss the implications this work has on our support of our

students. Drawing from sources as varied as Anthony Abraham Jack’s

The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged

Students, Kenji Yoshino’s Covering: The Hidden Assault on our Civil

Rights, and Claude Steele’s Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect

Us and What We Can Do, this session will open your mind, and change

your practice.

Presenter | Daniel Barkowitz, AVP Financial Aid and Veterans’

Affairs, Valencia College

Presenter | Joan Bailey, Director of Financial Aid, University of

South Florida – Health

Moderator | Michael Birchett, Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Momentum

Session 6 Clock Hour R2T4

R2T4 is not just for credit hour programs. Come learn about the key

requirements and important aspects when calculating a return of Title IV

funds for a student that withdraws from a clock hour program.



Education


Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: Intro to SQL for Different SISs

This session is an introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL) for

non-technical financial aid advisors. This is a hands-on session, so

attendees should expect to participate. If someone hasn’t ever seen

SQL, of they have but didn’t know how to read it, then this session is for

them.

Presenter | Kristopher Hatcher, Financial Aid Director, Gulf Coast

State College

Fusion




12:30 PM – 1:45 PM SASFAA Awards Luncheon & Business Meeting Main Salon DE

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM Conference Registration/Sponsor Area/Charity Booth Open Main Ballroom Foyer


Session 1 SULA Reporting and Issues

This session will cover SULA reporting requirements as well provide

schools with some guidance with common issues.

Presenter | Dana Kelly, VP of Professional Development and Institutional Compliance, NASFAA

Presenter | Faith Owens, Assistant Director, Pell Grant and Loans, Northern Virginia Community College

Moderator | Amy Berrier, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Main Salon F

Session 2 Open Forum: Top 10 Compliance Findings and Q & A

This session will explore the most current top ten audit and program

review compliance findings among Title IV schools. There will be a brief

discussion of each finding focusing on the most common errors made

within the various compliance issues. In addition, time will be set aside to

address school questions and interact with the audience on TIV

compliance concerns.



Education

Moderator | Kris Hatcher, Gulf Coast State College

Paul D. Fraim

Session 3 Efficiency Session: Efficiency Explained...Efficiently!

A good leader will always be concerned with efficiency because,

ultimately, it means better results with less effort. But working efficiently

isn't just about cost savings, getting more done, or furthering your career

or institution. Efficiency means more time to do the things you really

enjoy! Join NASFAA President Justin Draeger as he discusses

principles, tactics, and tools to achieve an efficient mind-set so that

productivity increases at the same time as professional and personal

fulfillment. [Material for this presentation comes from NASFAA's book:

"You're the Director: A Guide to Leadership in Student Financial Aid."]

Presenter | Justin Draeger, President and CEO, NASFAA

Moderator | Sharon Oliver, North Carolina Central University

Main Salon G

Session 4 Institutional Challenges in Detecting Financial Aid Fraud

Learn how fraudsters were caught targeting the Commonwealth of

Virginia. We will discuss data breach and Dark Web investigations as

well.

Presenter | Sam Vafaei, Enterprise Risk Manager, Northern Virginia

Community College

Moderator | Leigh Ann Hussey, University of West Georgia

Main Salon H



Session 5 Surviving the Changes: New Guidance in VA Certifications

This session will primarily focus on the different GI-Bill Chapters to

include 30, 31, 33, 35, and 1606, their primary benefactors, process for

application, unique stipends of each chapter and integration with

financial aid during the certification process. Highlights will include the

DVAs new Tungsten Network (Chapter 31) & extension campus

certification processes.

Presenter | Stephanie Martinez, Veterans Service Coordinator,

Tidewater Community College Center for Military and

Veterans Education

Moderator | Theresa Lowder, Berea College

Momentum

Session 6 What the Heck is Gazpacho? The Hidden Challenges of First-Generation

Professionals

What happens when first generation college students enter the

workforce? They become first generation professionals who often

struggle to successfully navigate the work world without the necessary

social or experiential skills. How do we recognize their struggles and help

build a bridge across the class divide?

Presenter | Paula Luff, NASFAA National Chair

Moderator | Renotta Shed, Mississippi Office of Student Financial

Aid

Energy

Session 7 Technology and Communications

This session will explore and explain how various technologies of Student Information Systems, Social Media, communication platforms, and specific outreach initiatives can and should be used to create effective communication with students and parents.

Presenter | Lakisha Sanders, Director of Financial Aid, Clayton State University

Fusion

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM Sponsor Area/Charity/VASFAA Hospitality Table Breakdown


Department of Education Update

This session will cover current Department regulations, policy, and guidance

including negotiated rulemaking, Verification, 2020-2021 FAFSA/CPS

updates, recent policy updates, and a discussion around any new DCLs, EAs

and ED training initiatives. If you want the latest and greatest from the FEDs,

then this session is for you!

Presenter | Cynthia Hammond, Assistant Director, Office of Policy


Education



Education

Moderator | Beth Armstrong, Virginia Polytechnic Institute





Session 1 Directors' Roundtable & Listening Session

Director-level attendees are encouraged to share your thoughts,

concerns, and ideas that could help students, your colleagues and you.

What challenges are you facing? What solutions have you found? How

can our professional associations help us? NASFAA and SASFAA want

to hear from you.

Facilitator | Bill Spiers, SASFAA President

Facilitator | Justin Draeger, President and CEO, NASFAA

Facilitator | Paula Luff, NASFAA National Chair

Paul D. Fraim

Session 2 Tips & Tricks in Aid Processing for Beginners

Welcome to the world of Financial Aid! As you start digging into federal,

state, and institutional regulations that govern your daily workflow,

please remember to work smarter, not harder. Leverage your resources

and community connections so you aren't constantly reinventing the

wheel. This session explores ways to find efficiencies amongst all the

red tape to make your life a little easier.

Presenter | Jonah Miller, Associate Director of Student Financial

Aid, Technology & Business Systems Development,

and Banner Lead, Appalachian State University

Moderator | Ashley Edens, Tusculum University

Main Salon F

Session 3 Identifying Fraudulent Documents

Doug Comfort is a detective with the Fairfax County Police Department

and a nationally-known expert on identifying fraudulent documents. Lest

you think you “don’t have a problem”, come listen and learn. Detective

Comfort has a way of turning a very serious topic into a fun learning

experience.

Presenter | Doug Comfort, Detective, Fairfax County Police

Department

Moderator | Sam Vafaei, Northern Virginia Community College

Main Salon G

Session 4 When You Think You've Heard It All ("Stories" of FA)

A fun and (hopefully) entertaining look at financial aid and the things

financial aid administrators have to deal with. The session will feature

“The Amy and Tom Financial Aid Show” highlighting a compilation of

some of the best and most outrageous moments that financial aid has to

offer. Audience participation encouraged.

Presenter | Amy Berrier, Assistant Director of Operations,

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Presenter | Tom Kinback, Associate Director of Financial Aid for

Campus Operations, Northern Virginia Community

College

Moderator | Reed Allison, Chattanooga State Community College

Main Salon H



Session 5 Likes + Clicks + Shares = Engagement. What strategies do you need to

employ to drive engagement across your social media channels?

According to a study from AOL/Nielsen over 27 million pieces of content

are shared every day on social media platforms such as Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram. With the large volume of content produced, it is

easy for us to fall into some common social media pitfalls. This

workshop will examine challenges schools might face and provide

solutions for how to overcome these obstacles. We’ll examine how to

define the appropriate posting cadence and how to create share-worthy

content. We’ll share the formula for connecting with Generation Z and

how expanding messaging across campus is essential to connecting

with today’s youth and in reaching your institution’s goals.

Presenter | Hadley Cook, Senior Community Management

Specialist, Sallie Mae

Moderator | Sarah Dowd, Trident Technical College

Momentum

Session 6 Clock Hour SAP

This session will discuss SAP from a clock hour perspective. We will

explore key requirements and main components that a school must have

in their SAP policy for their clock hour programs. Where appropriate,

examples will be provided and time will be set aside for Q & As.



Education

Moderator | Stephen Adcock, Enterprise State Community College

Energy

Session 7 Technology Session: CPOS Implementation for Banner

This session will highlight the steps Kennesaw State went through in

order to implement the Course Program of Study (CPoS) process in

Banner. We will discuss some of the challenges and how our campus

has adopted this process to ensure students only receive federal

financial aid that counts toward their declared major.

Presenter | Sarah Baumhoff, Associate Director of Financial Aid,

Kennesaw State University

Presenter | Bretta Carithers, Associate Director of Financial Aid,

Kennesaw State University

Fusion

6:15 PM – 10:30 PM “Night at the Museum”

Join your colleagues for food, fellowship and fun at Nauticus, Norfolk’s world-

class maritime museum.



Wednesday February 12, 2020

8:15 AM – 9:15 AM Birds of a Feather Facilitator

1. Public Two-Year Lisanne Masterson, Blue Ridge Community College Salon A

2. Public Four-Year Anthony Jones, University of Georgia Salon B

3. Private Four-Year Brent Tener, Vanderbilt University Salon C

4. Proprietary Salon F

5. Graduate/Professional Tony Sozzo, New York Medical College Salon G

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Brunch and Closing General Session Main Salon DE

NASFAA Update

Presenter | Justin Draeger, President and CEO, NASFAA

Presenter | Paula Luff, NASFAA National Chair

Presentation of Charity Donation

Announcement of Basket Winners

50/50 Drawing

Closing Business Meeting

Passing the Gavel - Bill Spiers to Celena Tulloss

2020-2021 Election Results

12:00 – 2:00 PM Conference Committee Debriefing 1783



William Spiers, President Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee, Florida

Celena Tulloss, President-Elect University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

Bryan Erslan, Past-President Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, Kentucky

Joan Bailey, Vice President University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida

Tarik Boyd, Secretary Morehouse College

Atlanta, Georgia

Leah Louallen, Treasurer Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation

Nashville, Tennessee

Steve Smith, Alabama State President

The University of West Alabama Livingston, Alabama

Robert Muhammad, North Carolina State President Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Daniel Barkowitz, Florida State President Valencia College Orlando, Florida

Melanie Gillespie, South Carolina State President Southern Wesleyan University

Central, South Carolina

Lakisha Sanders, Georgia State President Clayton State University

Morrow, Georgia

Joe Myers, Tennessee State President Motlow State Community College

Lynchburg, Tennessee

Bob Fultz, Kentucky State President Georgetown College

Georgetown, Kentucky

Bradley Scaggs, Virginia State President Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Blacksburg, Virginia

Gail Muse Beggs, Mississippi State President Bishop State Community College

Mobile, Alabama

SASFAA EXECUTIVE BOARD

Elected Officials

State Presidents



Marian Dill, Budget and Finance Chair Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee

Sarah Dowd, Communications and Outreach Chair Trident Technical College Charleston, South Carolina

Joan Zanders, Conference Chair Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, Virginia

Jonah Miller, Electronic Services Chair Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina

Stacy Walker, Global Issues Chair University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi

Ron Gambill, Legislative Relations Chair Edsouth Franklin, Tennessee

Keith Reeves, Long Range Planning Chair Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina

Wayne Kruger, Membership Chair St. Petersburg College St. Petersburg, Florida

Nathan Basford, Site Selection Chair Florida State University (retired) Tallahassee, Florida

Michael Birchett, Sponsorship Chair Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, Kentucky

Sarah Baumhof, Legal Compliance Task Force Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia

Brenda Brown, Legal Issues Workshop Task Force College Aid Services, LLC Miami, Florida

Sharon Oliver, President’s Guidebook Task Force North Carolina Central University Durham, North Carolina

Chad Sartini, Social Media Task Force Virginia Polytechnic Institute Blacksburg, Virginia

SASFAA COMMITTEE CHAIRS



Joan Zanders, Chair Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, Virginia

William Spiers, President Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, Florida

Celena Tulloss, President-Elect University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee

Joan Bailey, Vice President University of South Florida Tampa, Florida

Leah Louallen, Treasurer Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation Nashville, Tennessee

Tarik Boyd, Secretary Morehouse College Atlanta, Georgia

Nathan Basford, Site Selection Chair Florida State University (retired) Tallahassee, Florida

Michael Birchett, Sponsorship Chair Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, Kentucky

Jonah Miller, Electronic Services Chair Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina

Stacy Walker, Global Issues Chair University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi

Sarah Dowd, Communications and Outreach Chair Trident Technical College Charleston, South Carolina

Kathy Suarez, Florida Representative Valencia College Orlando, Florida

Kimberly Morris, Georgia Representative Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, Georgia

Mark Messingschlager, Kentucky Representative Thomas More University Crestview Hills, Kentucky

Robert Muhammad, North Carolina Representative Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Scott Callahan, South Carolina Representative Horry-Georgetown Technical College Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Reed Allison, Tennessee Representative Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, Tennessee

Kendra Allen, Virginia Representative Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, Virginia

Nichele Inboden, Local Arrangements Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, Virginia

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE



YEAR NAME INSTITUTION, STATE

1963-65 James F. Carr, Jr. Florida Board of Regents, FL

1965-66 Kingston Johns The College Board, GA

1966-67 Charles H. Watson Georgia Institute of Technology, GA

1967-68 Robert B. Kimmell Florida State University, FL

1968-69 Kenneth L. Wooten University of Mississippi, MS

1969-70 Cannon R. Mayes SC Commission of Higher Education, SC

1970-71 James E. Ingle University of Kentucky, KY

1971-72 Eunice L. Edwards Fisk University, TN

1972-73 Richard L. Waters University of Tennessee, TN

1973-74 Winston Bruce University of Mississippi, MS 1973-74 E. Thomas Cleveland Samford University, AL

1974-75 Priscilla M. Light Lynchburg College, VA

1975-76 David L. Hartshorn Florida Junior College, FL

1976-77 Joe L. McCormick Mississippi State University, MS

1977-78 William M. Geer University of NC at Chapel Hill, NC

1978-79 Gerald T. Bird University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL

1979-80 Curtis R. Whalen University of NC at Charlotte, NC

1980-81 Herb Vescio Eastern Kentucky University, KY

1981-82 Benny H. Walker Furman University, SC

1982-83 Cheryl Wilkes O’Keefe Medical College of Georgia, GA

1983-84 Preston Rosser Valencia Community College, FL

1984-85 Marvin G. Carmichael Clemson University, SC

1985-86 Eleanor S. Morris University of NC at Chapel Hill, NC 1986-87 Daniel L. Miller Phillips Colleges, MS

1987-88 Vernetta P. Fairley Pearl River Community College, MS

1988-89 Patsy Braxton North Carolina School of the Arts, NC

1989-90 William P. Rodgers Phillips Colleges, MS

SASFAA PAST PRESIDENTS



1990-91 Don Rainer AL Commission on High Education, AL

1991-92 Marleen Ingle University of NC at Greensboro, NC

1992-93 Cruzita Lucero Walters State Community College, TN

1993-94 David R. Gelinas University of the South, TN 1994-95 David Cecil Eastern Kentucky University, KY

1995-96 Karen Fooks University of Florida, FL

1996-97 Joel V. Harrell University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, TN

1997-98 Carol A. Mowbray Northern Virginia Community College, VA

1998-99 Susan Little University of Georgia, GA

1999-00 Mary Givhan Mississippi College, MS

2000-01 Bill Cox Meredith College, NC

2001-02 Clark Aldridge University of Montevallo, AL

2002-03 Karen Koonce DiFilippo Tidewater Community College, VA

2003-04 Ron Day Birmingham Southern College, AL

2004-05 Janet Sain Nowicki ECPI, NC

2005-06 Guy Gibbs Northern Virginia Community College, VA

2006-07 Brent Tener Vanderbilt University, TN

2007-08 Lisanne Masterson Brevard College, NC 2008-09 Heather Boutell Bellarmine University, KY

2009-10 Keith Reeves Clemson University, SC

2010-11 Sandra Neel Bellarmine University, KY

2011-12 Brad Barnett James Madison University, VA

2012-13 Jeff Dennis Southern Wesleyan University, SC

2013-14 Zita Barree Hampden-Sydney College, VA

2014-15 Nathan Basford Florida State University, FL

2015-16 Amy L. Berrier University of North Carolina, NC

2016-17 Marian Dill Lee University, TN

2017-18 Sharon Oliver North Carolina Central University, NC

2018-19 Bryan Erslan Eastern Kentucky University, KY



YEAR NAME INSTITUTION

1981-82 Dr. Neal Berte Birmingham-Southern College

1982-83 Carl D. Perkins U.S. House of Representatives

1983-84 Dr. Dallas Martin NASFAA

1984-85 Eunice Edwards Fisk University

1984-85 Herb Vescio Eastern Kentucky University

1986-87 William M. Geer University of NC at Chapel Hill

1986-87 Palmer Freeman Leroy Springs Foundation 1987-88 Dr. James F. Carr Harding College

1988-89 Guy Snavely Pickett and Hatcher Educational Fund, Inc.

1989-90 Dr. William Wall Alabama Commission on Higher Education

1990-91 Vernetta P. Fairley University of Southern Mississippi

1991-92 Cheryl Wilkes O’Keefe Medical College of Georgia

1992-93 Preston Rosser Valencia Community College

1993-94 Gerald T. Bird College Scholarship Service

1993-94 Robert Evans U.S. Department of Education

1994-95 Marvin G. Carmichael Clemson University

1994-95 Francine Reeves U.S. Department of Education

1995-96 Ron Gambill Tennessee Student Assistance Corp.

1996-97 Jack L. Woodward Millsaps College

1996-97 Cruzita Lucero Walters State Community College

1997-98 David Cecil Transylvania University

1997-98 Karen Fooks University of Florida

1998-99 Curtis Whalen University of NC at Charlotte

1998-99 Betty Whalen Wingate College

1999-00 Joel Harrell Clark Atlanta University

2000-01 Randy Craig Education Credit Management Corp.

2000-01 Eleanor S. Morris University of NC at Chapel Hill

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS



2001-02 Susan Little University of Georgia

2001-02 Carol Mowbray Northern Virginia Community College

2002-03 Mary Givhan Mississippi College

2002-03 Ken Player South Carolina Student Loan Corp. 2003-04 Jane McNaughton Union Planters Bank

2004-05 Bob Godfrey University of South Carolina-Columbia

2005-06 Clark Aldridge Collegiate Funding Services

2005-06 David Gelinas University of the South

2006-07 Janet Sain Nowicki SunTrust Education Loans

2006-07 Rosemary Stelma East Carolina University

2007-08 Guy Gibbs Northern Virginia Community College

2007-08 Greg Martin U.S. Department of Education

2008-09 Bill Cox NC State Education Assistance Authority

2008-09 Karen Koonce DiFilippo Wachovia

2009-10 Debra Talley University of Alabama, Birmingham

2010-11 Ron Day Kennesaw State University

2011-12 David Bartnicki U.S. Department of Education

2012-13 Brent Tener Vanderbilt University 2013-14 Dr. David Mohning Vanderbilt University

2014-15 Heather Boutell Bellarmine University

2014-15 Jeff Dennis Greenville Technical College

2015-16 Nancy Tate Anderson University

2016-17 Sandra Neel University of Louisville

2016-17 Brad Barnett James Madison University

2017-18 Lisanne Masterson Blue Ridge Community College

2018-19 Keith Reeves Clemson University



Montgomery, Alabama

Known as the Capital of Dreams

SASFAA is headed to Alabama next year to experience southern hospitality, sweet tea, and a full conference agenda. Downtown Montgomery is alive with an array of venues all outside the Renaissance Hotel where the 2021 SASFAA conference will be held. There will be plenty to do and see with your colleagues in the Alley Entertainment District just across from the convention center complex. Just one block from “The Alley” is the Harriott II Riverboat where you can enjoy a cruise on the Alabama River.

Montgomery is filled with rich history and

cultural landmarks. Arrive early or spend a

few days after the conference exploring the

new Legacy Museum and National

Memorial for Peace and Justice. In addition,

you can take in the Civil Rights Museum, the

Rosa Parks Museum, Hank Williams

Museum, and the Dexter Avenue King

Memorial Baptist Church. Montgomery in

February will provide an average high of 62

degrees making it a comfortable southern

city for visiting.

The SASFAA Conference Committee

guarantees a conference agenda with pertinent

and timely sessions, and time for networking,

and visiting with colleagues all sprinkled with

some SASFAA fun! Stop by the 2021

Conference Booth to enter the drawing for a

complimentary hotel stay.

Hope to see you in 2021 at the

Capital of Dreams

2021 CONFERENCE Looking Ahead

February 21 – 24, 2021



Presenter Name Institution Biographical Information

Allison, Reed Chatanooga State Community College

Reed has been in higher education for just over nine years having begun in a functional-technical support role for the Admissions, Records, and Financial Aid offices at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, TN. After moving to Spartanburg, SC, he also worked in a functional-technical support role for the Office of Financial Aid at the University of SC Upstate, later serving as Assistant Director. Currently, he is the Director of Financial Aid at Chattanooga State Community College in Chattanooga, TN.

Ayers, Bill College Avenue Student Loans

Bill is currently the Head of Campus Development at College Ave Student Loans. He has over 25 years of experience in higher education finance with previous management positions at Sallie Mae and JP Morgan. Since 2005, Bill and his wife Elizabeth, have run the Tampa Chapter of the National League of Junior Cotillions. They teach manners, etiquette and ballroom dancing to middle school through college students. They have also provided business etiquette instruction to the Tampa Mayor’s office, members of the Florida State legislature, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and several local businesses.

Bailey, Joan University of South Florida

Joan Bailey has been serving in the financial aid profession since 1996. Like many in the profession she started as a student employee. She started as a Graduate Assistant at University of South Florida (USF) Tampa Campus. She left USF as an Assistant Director to work at St Petersburg College for 5 years. She returned to USF in 2015 to lead the USF Health Financial Aid office. Joan has utilized her acquired skills and financial aid experience in a variety of volunteer and professional organizational roles. She is a frequent presenter for FASFAA, SASFAA, and NASFAA among others. She is a Past President of FASFAA and has served on numerous SASFAA Conference Committees. She has also served on the SASFAA board in numerous positions, she is the current SASFAA Vice President.

PRESENTER REFERENCE



Barkowitz, Daniel Valencia College Daniel Barkowitz is Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs at Valencia College, a position he has held since July of 2017. He is President of the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA) and is the inaugural Chair of National Commission of the Certified Financial Aid Administrator (CFAA) Program under the auspices of NASFAA. While relatively new to Florida, Daniel is not new to financial aid having served over 30 years in institutions of higher education. Previous roles include Director of Financial Aid at MIT, Dean of Financial Aid / Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Columbia College and Columbia Engineering at Columbia University in the City of New York, Director of Operations and Training for the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, and Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Boston College. Daniel earned his Bachelors of Science in History from Northeastern University and his Masters of Education in Human Resource Education from Boston University. Daniel has led presentations on Financial Aid and College Financing to many audiences (more than 500) ranging in size from 2 to 2000. He has been interviewed for television, radio and newspapers on the topic of financial aid. Daniel lives with his wife and two children in Orlando, and is a published poet, musical theater actor, and Tarot card collector. He promises an enjoyable and informative presentation.

Barnett, Brad James Madison University

Brad Barnett is an Accredited Financial Counselor and Certified Personal Financial Manager who works as the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships at James Madison University. With over two decades of experience in the financial aid profession, Brad has been active in state, regional, and national financial aid associations as a presenter, committee member/chair, and elected officer. A past president of VASFAA and SASFAA, he has also served NASFAA on the Financial Affairs Committee, as Treasurer, as Conference Chair, as a Standards of Excellence (SOE) Reviewer, and as a SOE Assessment Leader. Brad has received the VAFSAA Excellence Award, VASFAA Life Membership Award, SASFAA Distinguished Service Award, and NASFAA Regional Leadership Award. Additionally, he teaches personal finance courses (on-line and in person) at JMU and provides financial counseling services on a professional basis outside of his role with JMU.

Baumhoff, Sarah Kennesaw State University

Sarah Baumhoff is an Associate Director of Financial Aid at Kennesaw State University. Sarah has been at Kennesaw State for the last eight plus years. Sarah oversees all customer facing interactions, managing a staff of 20. Prior to joining the staff at KSU, Sarah worked for the state agency, Georgia Student Finance Commission, overseeing the outreach efforts and the college access website. Sarah has worked in financial aid in some capacity since her days as a college work-study student in the financial aid office.

Bell (Plunkett), Trudy FA Solutions Trudy has 18 years + of experience in the Higher Education Industry, including all aspects of federal, state, and institutional financial aid compliance and administration, student services, admissions, enrollment management, document management, research and training, supervision, evaluation Leadership, and auditing and preparation of audits among other things. Her first job involved clock hour programs and she has had a special place in her heart for clock hour programs ever since. FA Solutions is a third party that partners with schools to assist with anything from consultation and special projects to full processing including student communications, and has worked with all schools from small private schools to large private and state colleges. https://getfasolutions.com/



Berrier, Amy University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Amy Berrier is Assistant Director for Operations at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She began her career in 1995 as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at High Point University. Amy has been active at the state, regional, and national levels and has served our associations on many committees and many leadership roles. She has chaired numerous committees and served as President of both the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. As Past President of SASFAA, Amy served as the southern region voting member on the NASFAA Board of Directors. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from High Point College and a Master of Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Amy is also a recipient of the NCASFAA Eleanor S. Morris Distinguished Service Award and the NASFAA Regional Leadership Award for SASFAA.

Berry, Oshae University of Virginia Oshae Berry has been the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at the University of Virginia since 2019 and has worked at UVA since 2015. Oshae is a graduate of Columbia University and previously worked in the financial aid office at Columbia.

Blackburn, James Georgia State University James Blackburn is the Associate Vice President of Student Financial Services at Georgia State University. His responsibilities include the oversight of Financial Aid, Student Accounts and the SunTrust Student Financial Management Center. He has over 25 years in higher education, with 20 years of experience in financial aid administration. James excels in transforming organizations through data analytics, innovative problem-solving and continuous process improvement. He believes successful and thriving organizations use data to improve five pillars of excellence: people, process, technology, quality, and training. James holds an MBA from Auburn University and an MA in Humanities from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He is a Certified Management Accountant, Six Sigma Black Belt and Software Quality Engineer.

Boutell, Heather Vanderbilt University Heather Boutell is the Director of Financial Aid at Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, TN, and has been there a little over a year. Heather has worked in the field of financial aid for 28 years, and previously worked as Director at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. Heather has been active in professional organizations and has served as the President of the Kentucky ASFAA and President of the Southern ASFAA. She has also served on the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Board of Directors as a regional Past President, as one of the 6 elected roles of Rep-at-Large, and as a Commission Director. Heather is married to Steve and has two sons - Jonah, a senior in college about to graduate in May, and Ben, a junior in college.

Boyd, Tarik Morehouse College Tarik J. Boyd began his Financial Aid Career in 2008 as an administrative assistant in the Financial Aid Office at ECPI University in Virginia Beach, VA. He has held many positions since then and his most recent position is the Director of Financial Aid at Morehouse College, in Atlanta, GA. He has also served many roles with VASFAA, GASFAA, SASFAA, and NASFAA to include committee member, chair positions, Representative at Large, Secretary, and President. He thoroughly enjoys what he does as the ever-changing atmosphere keeps things exciting and the gratitude from assisting students and families achieve their dreams and goals is overwhelming.



Brownlow, Nicole Trident Technical College

Nicole Brownlow is the Associate Director of Financial Aid and Veterans Assistance at Trident Technical College, where she manages the financial literacy program and compliance. Nicole began her career in financial aid in 2004. Since then, she has served as a Financial Aid Officer, Student Loan Coordinator, and Compliance and Default Management Coordinator. In her current position, Nicole has tackled the enormous task of wrangling staff members to write and update the Policies and Procedures Manual. She enjoys getting out and about on campus and talking with students about making smart financial decisions. Outside of work, Nicole loves spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their three children Christian (11), Aiden (7), and Adalyn (5). Her Etsy side hustle helps fund their passion for Disney.

Carithers, Bretta Kennesaw State University

Bretta Carithers is an Associate Director of Financial Aid at Kennesaw State University. Bretta has been at Kennesaw State University three and a half years. She oversees the federal programs, awarding/packaging, disbursements, and all other processing aspects of financial aid. Bretta began her career in Financial Aid at the University of South Florida where she worked in various roles for five years. She later relocated to Atlanta, working at Georgia Institute of Technology, overseeing application and eligibility. Bretta has a passion for serving students and her community.

Christian, Zachary South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission

Zachary Christian is the Financial Aid Counselor and IT Director for the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission. Zachary graduated from Winthrop University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and History. Zachary started their career in the financial aid profession at their Alma Mater where they worked prior to joining the Commission. Zachary has been an active member of SCASFAA since 2015 and SASFAA since 2016. Zachary has served SCASFAA in various roles, including Member-at-Large, and is currently serving as Secretary, Electronic Services Chair, and Vice-Chair of the Conference Committee. Zachary also serves SASFAA as a member of the Communications Committee and the Electronic Services Committee. While a student at Winthrop University, Zachary was the Safe Zones Student Coordinator, leading various Ally Trainings for students, faculty, and staff. Zachary was fortunate to be among the first group of individuals who legally married in Buncombe County in North Carolina when “Same-Sex Marriage” first became legal in 2014. Zachary and spouse, Joseph, celebrated 5 years of marriage in October. Zachary’s pronouns are They/Them/He.

Comfort, Detective Doug Fairfax County Police Department

DET Comfort has been assigned to the Criminal Intelligence Division since 2001. He has served over 44 years in Law Enforcement, retiring from the Vienna PD before joining the Fairfax County PD. During the course of terrorism investigations after the 9/11 attacks, he recognized the inability of individuals to readily identify fraudulent documents. One of his specialties now is training in the use of counterfeit and fraudulent documents in all phases of criminal activity. DET Comfort facilitates numerous training courses using actual documents in furtherance of students learning how to identify fraudulent documents and thwart their use. He has served on multiple task forces at both the state and Federal levels.



Conrad, Katie Florida International University

Katie Conrad is the Sr. Associate Director of Financial Aid at Florida International University. Her previous positions include Director of Financial Aid at Midway University in Kentucky, and as Associate Director of Student Financial Aid at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Katie held many positions on the KASFAA Board during her 13 years in Kentucky, has served as a New Aid Officer Workshop Instructor for SASFAA, and is currently the Treasurer of FASFAA. Katie enjoys the sunshine and scuba diving with her husband, Bill, and their 12-year-old daughter, Sam.

Cook, Hadley Sallie Mae Hadley Cook is the Senior Community Management Specialists for Sallie Mae’s Social Media Team. Hadley is responsible for engaging with Sallie Mae’s online community on a daily basis. By leveraging social listening, she is able to gauge sentiment and spot trends over time that help to inform and regularly shape social media strategies. Prior to joining the social team, Hadley spent time on Sallie Mae’s brand team where she shaped external advocacy with students and supported the roll out of Sallie Mae’s re-brand initiative.

Dugger, Mike University of Florida Mike Dugger is the Financial Aid Associate Director at the University of Florida. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UF and has been part of UF's Financial Aid IT team for over 25 years. Mike was also the FA Functional Lead during UF's Campus Solutions implementation.

Flake, Rebecca Cooley, LLP Rebecca Flake has been in the financial aid industry since 1990. She has served as a financial aid officer, a director of financial aid, a compliance auditor, a trainer, and a consultant. She has been in her current position at Cooley, LLP as Senior Advisor of Higher Education Services since 2011. At Cooley, she works with a team of attorneys and higher education professionals to assist public, non-profit and for-profit colleges and universities across the country with a vast range of compliance matters.

Gambill, Ron Edsouth Ron Gambill is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Educational Funding of the South, Inc. (Edsouth). Prior to joining Edsouth, he was Executive Director of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) for over 17 years and served as a financial aid director for Nashville State Technical Institute for over 11 years. Mr. Gambill serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Higher Education Resources. He serves on the Executive Board of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators as Chair of the Legislative Relations Committee and as Chair of the Governmental Relations Committee on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Mr. Gambill serves on the Board of Visitors for the Education Department at Lipscomb University. He holds a B.A. from Lipscomb University and a Master’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Mr. Gambill has worked in state and federal legislative relations for over 30 years.

Gross, Anne NACUBO (retired) Anne Gross retired in 2018 after 30 years at the National Association of College and University Business Officers where she represented the interests of business officers and bursars before Congress and federal agencies. She participated in numerous negotiated rulemakings with the Department of Education, developed on-going research efforts, and organized NACUBO’s Student Financial Services conference. Over the last year, Anne has been advising Financial Aid Services (FAS) on its new Student Business Services initiative.



Hamilton, Billie Jo University of South Florida

Billie Jo Hamilton is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Planning and Management at the University of South Florida. She supervises the offices of the Registrar and Financial Aid. Her career has spanned 38 years and five states, including directorships at the University of Kansas Medical Center, the University of Tennessee-Memphis, Missouri State University, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She is a past state president (Kansas) and has held numerous elected and appointed positions in RMASFAA, SASFAA and MASFAA. She has served as NASFAA conference chair, Leadership Expo chair, commission director, Representative at Large, has presented numerous times at the NASFAA Leadership Conference, and was NASFAA National Chair in 2017-18. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration from Pittsburg State University (KS).

Hatcher, Kristopher Gulf Coast State College Kris Hatcher has worked in financial aid for over thirteen years across various types of institutions. Kris has also served as a board member of the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA) and recently passed NASFAA’s “Certified Financial Aid Administrator” exam. He and his beautiful wife Katie have two wonderful children, Jackson and Julia, and a dog named Maddox.

Hawkins, Philip The George Washington University

Philip Hawkins is the Director of Financial Aid at The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC, a position he has held since March 2017. He has a 28-year career in higher education, intersecting financial aid with previous experience in multiple fields of student affairs and academic affairs at small private and large public institutions. Prior to moving to the nation’s capital, Philip was very involved in the financial aid profession in Georgia, having served as president of GASFAA in 2012-2013. He also served SASFAA as Legislative Relations Chair in 2013-2014 and most recently served on the EASFAA Council for two years as Training Chairperson for the NASFAA Credentials program. Philip’s involvement in NASFAA has included participation on the Training and Professional Development Committee in 2011-2012, in which he was very involved with the committee’s work on writing the NASFAA monograph on Satisfactory Academic Progress. He has presented conference sessions at the NASFAA annual conference on a wide variety of topics, most recently including the topic “Just Keep Swimming: The Importance of Mental Health in the Financial Aid Profession,” which has also recently made its way to the 2017-2018 NASFAA Now Annual Impact Report as an interest article. He currently serves a three-year term as a voting member on NASFAA’s newly created Certified Financial Aid Administrator (CFAA) Commission. In his spare time, Philip enjoys singing with the Congressional Chorus, located in Washington DC. He also enjoys the therapeutic nature of putting together 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles. He has two adult children, his son Eric and his wife Aleksandra, and his daughter Mallary, all of whom live in Georgia.

Hedrick Castrovinci, Jennifer

National Student Clearinghouse

Jennifer Hedrick Castrovinci is a Specialist in National Student Clearinghouse’s Audit Resource Center assisting more than 1,500 institutions annually with federal financial aid audit questions for NSLDS compliance reporting. She has a diverse background including more than 10 years of experience at the Clearinghouse in Title IV compliance reporting, postsecondary and secondary research operations, and verification services. Jennifer is considered a Clearinghouse subject matter expert on enrollment and compliance reporting best practices, and works in partnership with the operations team and the Audit Resource Center to ensure Clearinghouse participating postsecondary institutions receive exceptional support and guidance year round.



Jewett, Katherine Financial Aid Services Kathy Jewett has over 25 years of higher education experience, at the managerial level, in student business services with four-year public and private institutions. She most recently served as the bursar at Marymount University in Virginia. Throughout her career, Kathy has been an integral part of various leadership teams. She was instrumental in the implementation of PeopleSoft for the five-college University of Massachusetts system and the implementation of SCT’s loan system for Boston College. Kathy has long been active in campus-based professional groups and staff training initiatives. She is currently serving as interim bursar at a private university as a consultant for Financial Aid Services.

Jones, Anthony University of Georgia Anthony Jones currently serves as Director of Student Financial Aid at the University of Georgia. He has been in student financial aid for more than 28 years with prior financial aid experience at 4 universities, NASFAA, and for more than 10 years at the U.S. Department of Education conducting policy analysis and research on financial aid and other higher education areas. Anthony has served NCASFAA, TASFAA, SASFAA, and NASFAA, including making numerous presentations at each association’s conferences. Anthony holds a B.A. from UNC-Greensboro, an M.A. from Tusculum College, and earned his PhD at UGA. He continues to serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Student Financial Aid.

Kelly, Dana NASFAA Dana Kelly currently serves as the vice president of professional development and institutional compliance for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). In this role she oversees all products and services assigned to the training and regulatory assistance and certification and credentialing departments, supervises DC-based and remote training staff, manages the annual Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, and develops session content for NASFAA's national conference. As a member of NASFAA's executive team, she is instrumental in ensuring NASFAA is working toward the vision, mission, and goals established by NASFAA's Board of Directors. Prior to working at NASFAA, she held positions at Nelnet Diversified Solutions as a national trainer, at Nelnet as a regional director, and at High Point University as the director of student financial planning. She holds a Bachelor of Science in justice and policy studies from Guilford College, master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. and a master's degree from University of Phoenix in organizational management.

Kinback, Tom Northern Virginia Community College

Tom Kinback has been in the financial aid field for almost 30 years at both private and public institutions in Virginia where he has managed financial aid offices, business offices and a private, institutional loan program for a private, for-profit institution. Tom began working at NOVA in July 2009 as Associate Director of Financial Aid for Campus Operations where he oversees the operations of six campus financial aid offices. In his position as Associate Director, Tom is in charge of the review and processing of all SAP appeals and Professional Judgments. On average, NOVA receives over 1700 SAP and Professional Judgment appeals a year. Tom has a BA degree in Management from George Mason University and a Master in Business Administration from Strayer University.



Kruger, Wayne St. Petersburg College Wayne Kruger has been serving in the financial aid profession since 2002, working his way from Program Assistant to his current role as the Executive Director Financial Assistance Operations at St. Petersburg College. He holds Master of Education in College Student Affairs and puts those acquired skills and financial aid experience to good use in a variety of volunteer and professional organizational roles. He is a frequent presenter for FASFAA, SASFAA, and NASFAA among others. He is currently the SASFAA Membership Chair and FASFAA Webinar Coordinator.

Lovett, Dameion University of South Florida at Tampa

Dameion leads the financial aid office’s retention and graduation rate efforts related to financial aid for the USF Tampa campus. Dameion also manages the financial education program that oversees the financial literacy of the Tampa campus undergraduate students, guiding the program to be LendEdu’s #1 ranked Financial Aid Counseling Program for 2018 and #11 ranked Financial Literacy Program for 2019. Dameion has working in financial aid at USF since 1997. Dameion is the 2019-2020 President-Elect of the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA).

Martinez, Stephanie Tidewater Community College

Ms. Stephanie Martinez is the Veterans Service Coordinator of Tidewater Community (TCC) College’s Center for Military and Veterans Education (CMVE). Established in 2011, the CMVE provides college-wide leadership, management, and coordination for programs and services specifically targeted to military-related students. Military-related students including active-duty service members, veterans, and family members comprise approximately 35% of TCC’ s total student population of over 40,000. The CMVE is designed to increase student success and provide quality, consolidated student services through counseling, advising, and student support services for credit, continuing education, certifications, and degrees. The Veterans Services Coordinator provides college-wide leadership and supervision, in support of the Director of Military Student Support Services, to include oversight of the four campuses’ CMVE Veterans Affairs offices and staff. Responsibilities range from coordination to program supervision, involving responsibilities such as training, certifying, planning, coordinating, implementing, supervising staff, evaluating programs and services, and representing the Director of Military Student Support Services in his/her absence. Ms. Martinez enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1991 and retired from 20 years of service as a Navy Chief Quartermaster in 2011.

Masterson, Lisanne Blue Ridge Community College

Lisanne is currently serving as the Director of Financial Aid at Blue Ridge Community College and has 36 years of experience in financial aid. She holds a BA in Mathematics from UT – Knoxville and a MA in Education (Educational Administration emphasis) from Western Carolina University. Lisanne has been active in NASFAA, including serving as NASFAA Treasurer, as a Representative-at-large for the Board of Directors, as a Commission Director, as a regional representative (2 years), for three years on the Leadership Development and Professional Advancement Committee (one year as chair), for two years on the Nominations & Elections Committee, and for five years as a member of the Finance Committee. She has also been active in both her state and regional financial aid organizations in a variety of positions, serving as SASFAA President (2007-08), Conference Chair, New Aid Officer Instructor (two years) and Curriculum Coordinator, and Site Selection Chair. NCASFAA offices held include President and Treasurer (2 years), as well as Chairs of the Audit, Conference, Membership (3 years), and Publicity/Publications (2 years) committees. Lisanne’s passions outside work are cooking, golf and fly-fishing.



Miller, Jonah Appalachian State University

Jonah Miller serves as Associate Director of Student Financial Aid for Technology and Business Systems Development at Appalachian State University. He is also the Banner Lead and IT Liaison for his office. Jonah is an active member of SASFAA and currently serves as the Electronic Services Committee Chair. He has nearly 10 years of progressive financial aid experience spanning most aspects of the profession. Jonah holds a Master’s of Education Degree with a concentration in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University.

Miller, Scott University of Virginia Scott Miller has been the Director of Financial Aid at the University of Virginia since 2014 and has worked at UVA since 2003. Scott is a graduate of Mercer University and previously worked at Mars Hill University.

Muhammad, Robert Winston-Salem State University

Robert’s Muhammad’s professional career has been in higher education specifically in the area of student support. He has worked primarily with the areas of financial assistance (federal financial aid and veteran educational assistance), the college readiness program, Upward Bound, and admissions. Robert is the Director of Financial Aid at Winston-Salem State University. He annually administers over $60 million in federal, state and institutional aid. He previously served as Associate Director for Scholarships at UNC Charlotte, Assistant Director for Financial Aid UNC-Charlotte, and Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Counselor at Central Piedmont Community College. Robert is the 2019-20 NCASFAA President. He has served on the NCASFAA Board in various roles. He presents on various financial aid topics conferences throughout the US. Robert also presents on behalf of Minority-Serving and Under Resourced Schools Division (MSURSD) of Federal Student Aid (FSA). Robert earned his baccalaureate degree from UNC Charlotte and an MBA from Winston-Salem State University. Robert is married to the very patient Dr. Kristen McManus-Muhammad. They reside in Winston-Salem with their miniature schnauzer Loki. Favorite quotes: “He who provides you with the radius of your knowledge, prescribes for you the circumference and sphere of thinking.”

Mullowney, William Valencia College William J. Mullowney serves as Vice President for Policy and General Counsel for Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. He serves as Valencia's chief legal officer and as its lobbyist and legislative counsel to the executive and legislative branches of the State of Florida. He also serves as Program Chair for the biannual Community College Conference on Legal Issues. He earned his B.B.A. degree from the University of Miami School of Business, and his J.D. and LL.M. degrees from the University of Miami School of Law. Prior to his position at Valencia, Dr. Mullowney served as the College Attorney at Whittier College in California and before that as University Ombudsman at the University of Miami. He is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), and has completed three elected terms of service on its Board of Directors, serving as a member-at-large, then as Secretary, and most recently as the Chair of the Board.

Owens, Faith Northern Virginia Community College

Faith has worked with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) for twenty-one years and has been a member of the financial aid community in various capacities for twenty-five years. For the past seven years she has served as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Pell Grant and Loans.



Phillips, Kim St. Petersburg College Kim has been involved in Higher Education for over 25 years, with about 20 of those years in Financial Aid. She has worked at Public Vocation Technical Schools – Vo Tech Clock Hour Schools as well as State Colleges. All years have been in Florida, in fact she is a rare bread and was born in Florida. Kim has enjoyed her involvement in Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators as Conference Chair, Registration Chair, Clock Hour Chair and numerous other committees. The majority of her Financial Aid experience has been with clock hour aid and she believes that clock hour aid is NOT difficult, only different. Kim has two sons, Chandler 24 and Spencer 21.

Sanders, Lakisha Clayton State University Lakisha Sanders has been working in financial aid for over 19 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and another Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Armstrong Atlantic State University. She gained financial aid experience by working for private 4 year institutions, public 4 year institutions, and 2 year institutions. These schools include Savannah College of Art and Design, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and Clayton State University. She worked her way up from a Financial Aid Advisor to her current position as the Director of Financial Aid for Clayton State University. Knowing all facets of financial aid is a priority that provided the opportunity to work for Ellucian Banner as a traveling Financial Aid Functional and Technical Software Consultant throughout the United States. It is an honor to work in financial aid to serve students, the community, the financial aid college community, and be the 2019-2020 Georgia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (GASFAA) President.

Scaggs, Brad Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Financial aid is Brad’s second career. After a nearly 4 year stint in law enforcement, he began his career in financial aid. Having worked for a variety of institutions – for profit, private not for profit, and publics – both two and four year schools, Brad currently works at Virginia Tech with an amazing team of knowledgeable, dedicated, and student-centered staff. In his role at Tech he is responsible for operations and compliance; including file review, state and federal fund management, and loan processing. Brad is also privileged to be the current VASFAA president. As a first-generation college student, he can think of no nobler profession. He does this because he knows college changes lives.

Shaffner, Will Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA)

Will Shaffner has over 38 years of experience in the student loan and higher education finance arena and currently is the Director of Business Development & Government Relations at the Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA), serving in this capacity since 2004. In this role, Mr. Shaffner participates as a member of the Executive Management Team at MOHELA and is responsible for all sales activity within the Authority, including school and lender channels, private loans, loan servicing, government relations, as well as marketing, e-commerce, and public relations efforts. Mr. Shaffner currently serves on the NCHER Board, and serves as Chair of its Governmental Relations Committee. Prior to MOHELA, he worked with American Student Assistance as Director of Lender and Strategic Partnerships. Prior to working within the FFELP industry, Mr. Shaffner was the Associate Director of Student Financial Aid at the University of Central Florida, where he worked for over eight years. He currently serves on the Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation board as Vice-Chair and Infinite Scholars board Co-Chair. Mr. Shaffner holds a B.A. in business administration from the University of Central Florida.



Smith, Tyler University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tyler has had the privilege of working in Higher Education for the past 15 years. Throughout this time, Tyler has gained experience working in several departments including: Student Accounts, Admissions, Financial Aid, and One-Stop. Tyler's primary focus has been in Financial Aid and currently serves as an Associate Director at Niner Central, UNC Charlotte’s One Stop. Tyler also serves as a liaison working with the Financial Aid team for process improvement, as the most common request of Niner Central concerns Financial Aid.

Sozzo, Tony New York Medical College

Anthony M. Sozzo, (TONY), is an Associate Dean for Student Affairs at New York Medical College. Mr. Sozzo has been working at New York Medical College since 1984 and has been an educator for over forty years. As the Director of the Office of Student Financial Planning, he and his office colleagues manage the processing of over fifty-six million dollars of student aid to some 1,300 students. In addition to other duties in Student Affairs and as the Director of the Student Financial Planning, Mr. Sozzo oversees close to eighty student activity clubs; many clubs which perform community service and charity activities. Tony was the recipient of NASFAA’s Meritorious award in 2019, and Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award in December of 2013. He was selected as the NASFAA GPIC Chair in 2012-13 and again in 2018-19. Tony was Chair of (COSFA) the Committee on Student Financial Aid from 1995 to 1998 which is a national financial aid committee for medical schools. During his chairmanship, COSFA developed “Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors” (MD)2 a longitudinal financial plan for students from the pre-medical to the early practice years which was the foundation for AAMC First for Medical Education. In 1993 Tony developed and still operates MEDAID-L listserv for Health Professions financial aid administrators now serving over 500 professional colleagues.

Spiers, Bill Tallahassee Community College

Bill Spiers has been a Director of Financial Aid since 1983, serving first at Jacksonville University and for the last 22 years at Tallahassee Community College. He has served as FASFAA President, Chair of the Florida Council on Student Financial Aid, Treasurer for the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. and on numerous boards and councils. He has two Bachelor’s Degrees and a Master’s Degree from Jacksonville University. He is married and has three children and one granddaughter -Hazel.

Suarez, Kathy Valencia College Kathy Suarez is currently an Assistant Director in Financial Aid with Valencia College. She has over 18 years of experience in Financial Aid. Some of Kathy’s goals are to write a book, visit Israel and learn to play the guitar. Kathy is the creator of the Financial Aid Manual for her current institution and has worked closely with the Financial Literacy Program at Valencia College.

Tener, Brent Vanderbilt University Brent Tener currently serves as Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Vanderbilt University and has worked in financial aid for almost 30 years. He has presented numerous times at national, regional and state associate conferences, and was one of the main architects of Vanderbilt’s current progressive need-based financial aid program, Opportunity Vanderbilt. Prior to Vanderbilt, Brent worked at Wichita State University in Admissions and in Financial Aid. He has been involved in varying capacities with the Tennessee Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA), the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA), and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). Brent will serve as NASFAA National Chair, 2021-2022. Brent graduated from Wichita State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a M.Ed. in Counseling, with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration.



Tulloss, Celena University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Celena Tulloss serves as the Senior Associate Director in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Prior to joining the team at Tennessee, Celena served as the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Lincoln Memorial University. Celena has held many different leadership positions in the state and regional associations, including Electronic Services Chair, Conference Chair, New Aid Officer Workshop Instructor, TASFAA President and was a member of the inaugural class of the SASFAA Leadership Symposium. She currently serves as SASFAA President-Elect. Celena holds a Masters degree in Education Leadership. She enjoys cooking, boating at the lake, and spending time with her family, husband Scott, daughter Carrigan and their three fluffy white dogs Grizzly, Kiwi and Mrs. Butterworth.

Vafaei, Sam Northern Virginia Community College

Sam began his career in financial aid as a work-study student. In 2018, he advanced to his current position as Enterprise Risk Manager. In this role, Sam investigates internal and external threats that involve the administration of Title IV, HEA programs, and the receipt of funds under those programs, individuals that may have engaged in fraud, misrepresentation, conversion or breach of fiduciary responsibility, or other illegal conduct involving Title IV, HEA programs, and state funds.

Woodous, Keshia Norfolk State University Keshia is a 10 year financial aid veteran with experience across multiple sectors including proprietary, 4 year private, 2 year public and 4 year public. She began her career as a student finance counselor at ECPI and has worked her way up to Assistant Director of Client Services at Norfolk State University. At Norfolk State University, she is currently responsible for the counseling staff, scholarships and outreach.

Southern Association of Student Financial Aid … 2020...SASFAA 2020 Courage, Compassion,...

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