National Chair:
Mr. David L. Gruen
Director, Student Financial Aid
University of Wyoming, WY
dgruen@uwyo.edu
Type of College: 4-year, public in the FFELP
Number of Students: 13,000
Gruen describes himself as a Financial Aid journeyman who has enjoyed plying the art and science of being a financial aid professional.
Dave Gruen has served as Director of Financial Aid at the University of Wyoming (the only four-year school in the state) for the past 5 years and has been in the financial aid profession for 36 years. He has also served as the president of the Rocky Mountain and Wyoming Associations of Student Financial Aid Administrators and is the first National Chair from Wyoming
Today, Gruen works and resides in Laramie, Wyoming - living at 7200 feet (and that's in a valley) - where the Western ethos is alive and well. This Western individualism, which might be called the ‘Cowboy Code', has resulted in a number of surprisingly progressive firsts for Wyoming. These may run counter to what you might think about Western ‘Red' states and, perhaps, about those who live in Dick Cheney country. However, Wyoming is called the ‘equality state.' In 1869, Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant female suffrage, it was the first to have a woman vote in an election in 1870, and in 1924 it was the first state to elect America's first female governor.
Before moving to Wyoming, he served as Director of Student Financial Services at Denver University, Director of Student Financial Aid at the University of Tulsa, and at Alfred University in New York and Southeastern Community College in North Carolina.
Regional Rep:
Mrs. Heather H. Boutell
Director, Financial Aid
Bellarmine University, KY
hboutell@bellarmine.edu
Type of College: 4-year, private in the FFELP
Number of Students: 2,800
I began my career in 1991 when I started work on a Master's in Student Personnel Services. My goal was to get a "fun" job doing student activities or residence life, but I received an assistantship in the financial aid office at the University of Louisville (UofL). I found that I loved the profession and never left! Over my 17 year career I have experience at UofL and KHEAA, as well as Bellarmine. I got involved in KASFAA and SASFAA because I felt the training was imperative, and the relationships I developed have been invaluable to me surviving in this field. I am married to Steve, a United Methodist campus minister, and have two sons, Jonah, 10 and Ben, almost 9. (August 6!) My hobbies include watching reality TV - everything from Amazing Race to Survivor to the Apprentice, and singing and playing the piano (my undergrad major was Music Ed).
Regional Rep:
Mr. William Cheetham
Director of Financial Aid
Le Moyne College, NY
Email: cheethwc@lemoyne.edu
Type of College: 4-year, private in the FFELP
Number of Students: 2,900
I am a first generation college graduate from rural farm family in upstate New York, from parents who were unable to complete HS due to family farm commitments.
I started in financial aid in the summer of 1982 at my alma mater, SUNY College at Cortland. The state had canceled the funding for my graduate program, and I was offered the opportunity to continue my grad program part time if I agreed to accept a position in the financial aid office immediately, as a state hiring freeze was imminent. I accepted the position, completed my graduate degree and within that period(approximately 3 years) had become the assistant director of the office. I worked there for 15 years, became the director at Le Moyne 11 years ago. I served on the SUNY Financial Aid Professionals executive council as a 4 year rep; regional rep, secretary and president for NYSFAAA; President of EASFAA; and too many training events and committee chair positions to begin to name. I am happily married to Betsy who is the assistant director of admission at SUNY Cortland, and I have three wonderful children; Bradley - 21 - Senior at University of Buffalo; Amanda - 18 - Freshman at King's College; and Haley - 15 - Sophomore in HS. I am a college soccer referee, and a retired youth soccer coach. I am committed to enjoying whatever I do, and hope to help those around me have an enjoyable experience as well.
Regional Rep
Mr. Richard Eddington-Shipman
Director
Michigan State University, MI
shipmanr@msu.edu
Type of College: 4-year, public in the FDLP
Number of Students: 49,050
I entered the financial aid profession 30 years ago, as something to do until I finished my education and found a real job. I found the variety of work and opportunities for advancement to be so engaging that I never left. In fact, I never left Michigan State and feel this has been a mutually beneficial arrangement. I have worked as a reception room supervisory, advisor, management systems coordinator, and many other positions until becoming director. The camaraderie between financial aid professionals in our state, regional, and national associations is a continual source of inspiration and testimony to the great work that we all do for families. I enjoy both reading and writing and watching the amazing things that my 3 children do, both to my delight and torment!
Regional Rep:
Ms. Diane Lambart Fleming
Associate Director of Client Services
Central Michigan University, MI
flemi1dl@cmich.edu
Type of College: 4-year, public in the FDLP
Students: 29,000
I have been in financial aid for 25 years, and became active in the MSFAA and MASFAA in 1993. Being involved at the state and regional levels completely changed just a job into a profession and a calling. The best part of this profession is knowing that what we do makes a real, tangible difference in the lives of the students whom we serve. A close second best is my financial aid colleagues. We are sharing, caring, talented, and fun-loving bunch of people! As a financial aid professional I am able to channel my love of politics (political science major!) into being actively involved with both the state and regional Federal Issues Committees. My husband and I love to travel, have season football and basketball tickets, are die-hard Yankee fans, and are doting grandparents.
Regional Rep:
Ms. Terri Gruba
Associate Director
The University of Montana, MT
tgruba@mso.umt.edu
Type of College: 4-year public
Number of Students: 14,000
DL or FFEL: FFEL
I got my first taste of financial aid nearly 20 years ago when I was in our Business Office and had the opportunity to work with students during mass registration/fee payment (before the days of on line registration, remember those old days?) When an opening occurred in the Financial Aid Office here at The University of Montana, I leaped at the opportunity to work more closely with students. I got involved in my state association when our Montana state president asked me to serve on a budget committee. From that initial step, I went on to serve in various elected and volunteer positions in my state and my region, until this past year when I was elected as President of the Rocky Mountain region. I truly believe that in all of the work I’ve done as a trainer, an officer, a committee person, whatever role I’ve played, I have received so much more from my students, my co-workers, my colleagues across the nation, than I have ever given. Financial Aid is a profession that digs deep within one and gets into the soul; I am so grateful that it’s my profession.
Regional Rep:
Ms. Tami Sato
Director of Financial Aid
Southern California College of Optometry, CA
tsato@scco.edu
Type of College: 4-year, private in the FFELP
Number of Students: 385
Sometimes I ponder on how this graphics art major dabbing in acrylic paints and ink is sitting at the board meeting table for a national association of financial aid. Course in the 27 years that has transpired I have done a fair share of volunteering in the associations and with the prodding and encouragement of established leaders have found myself to be a leader also. As a past-president of WASFAA I believe it is our responsibility to "prod and encourage" others to allow new leaders to have the same great experience.
So what happened to my artsy beginning? Adding volunteering responsibilities to your paid job responsibilities can add stress and I get some relief with crafting, mainly stamping and card making. I also think I use my arty side when designing financial aid forms and thinking of creative solutions to problems including streamlining processes.
Rep At Large:
Mr. Ron Day
Director of Financial Aid
Kennesaw State University, GA
rday9@kennesaw.edu
Type of College: 4-year, public in the FFELP
Number of Students: 25,000 students
While sitting in church one Sunday, the president of one of the area colleges offered me the opportunity of working in the aid office. It seemed to be (and has proven to be so) a good fit with my training - counseling students/parents. As an aid administrator, I quickly sought assistance and direction from colleagues and peers. After 25 years of service to our wonderful profession, I feel very strongly about giving back to this wonderful profession, that has given me so much, by volunteering whenever possible - to assist with training initiatives, leadership responsibilities and mentoring. I truly love what it is we do - making a difference in the future of so many.
Rep At Large:
Mr. Roger Koester
Director of Financial Aid
Colorado School of Mines, CO
rkoester@mines.edu
Type of College: 4-year, public in the FFELP
Students: 3,300 undergrads and 800 grad students
I've been in financial aid for 26 years and in higher ed. for 34 years in total " the last 19 years here at CSM. I got into financial aid in 1982 as the Financial and Policy Analyst in the aid office at Northwestern University, and that was because I had left my prior position (a quick 2 year stint in private industry), had been "non-professionally" employed (day labor) for a year, and wanted to get back into higher ed. I started getting involved in the financial aid association in Illinois, and then when I came to Colorado I really became involved, doing conference planning, chairing committees, as CAFAA president, then RMASFAA president (and my first stint on the Board), and doing a lot of committee work for NASFAA.
Free time is spent (uselessly) hitting the golf ball around the course, or doing gardening, which for me means using my pickax, since my Colorado mountain soil is really rocks buried in decomposed granite.
Rep At Large:
Mr. James M. Swanson
Director of Financial Aid
Colorado College, CO
jswanson@coloradocollege.edu
Type of College: 4-year, private in the FDLP
Number of Students: 2,000
My sincere and devote passions during my 32 years in the financial aid profession has been to help people whether it is assisting students achieve their dreams through obtaining a college education or training colleagues in the financial aid profession. I was fortunate to follow my passions and become involved in the training efforts of the Rocky Mountain Association and the College Board by volunteering early on in my career. This experience lead me to other opportunities of serving our profession by working on a variety of NASFAA committees and now the Board of Directors which in turn has contributed to becoming better equipped to serve students.
Rep At Large:
Ms. Alvina Thomas
Dean, Student Services & Financial Aid
Louisiana Delta Community College, LA
athomas@ladelta.cc.la.us
Type of College: 2-year, public in no loan program
Students: 1300
I have been in financial aid for 18 years. My first position in financial aid was a financial aid counselor. I served on several state committees before I was asked to serve as a decentralized trainer for the SWASFAA region. These committee assignments lead to my volunteering for NASFAA committees. I was then asked to run for our state second vice president"which lead to my becoming President for our state. I have been impressed with the professionalism of NASFAA and mission to help all students. Therefore, I was honored to be asked to serve on NASFAA committees and now serve as a Representative-at-Large.
I believe service to students goes beyond the financial aid office"that is the reason I became involved in state, regional and national committees. I enjoy listening to jazz, watching old movies-the older the better including westerns, and dancing.
Commission Director
Ms. Susan K. Allen
Director of Financial Aid
University of New Hampshire, NH
suzy.allen@unh.edu
Type of College: 4-year public, in the FFELP
Number of Students: 11,000
I've been in aid since 1979. I was working an hourly job on campus and an entry level FA position opened up. I had no experience (hadn't been on FA in college) but got the job as a Counselor. A year or so later, I was promoted to Assistant Director and then a few years later, I was promoted to Associate Director. In 2000, I took over as Director. I have been actively involved in my state association since 1990 and region since 1994. My years of professional involvement are what have kept me going in this profession!
Commission Director:
Mr. Brent B. Tener
Associate Director
Vanderbilt University, TN
b.tener@vanderbilt.edu
Type of College: 4 year, private in the FFELP
Number of Students: 11,000
I have worked in financial aid for 19 years. I have enjoyed meeting so many great financial aid professionals from across the country during my time volunteering in TASFAA, SASFAA and NASFAA. It is truly a great community of friends who really understand what it is we do on a daily basis. The friendships I have made have really helped sustain me through the more challenging times that we all face when trying to serve students and families.
