Honorary Membership in NASFAA is the highest honor that the Association can bestow on a person who is neither a member nor affiliated with a member organization.

Since this is the highest such award that NASFAA can give, the individual receiving it must have made truly outstanding contributions to the Association and to the profession over a sustained period of time. It is not expected that honorary membership will be granted in recognition of a single accomplishment, but for continued efforts over a period of time. Several members of Congress, a former Secretary of Education, and a former Commissioner of Education have received this award.

Members may nominate individuals for this award online annually.

Recipients

• 2017 - Jeff Baker, Director of the Policy, Liaison, and Implementation Staff, U.S. Department of Education.
• 2016 - Jamie Merisotis, President & CEO, Lumina Foundation and U.S. Congressman John Kline, Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee
• 1997 - The Honorable Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education
• 1990 - The Honorable Augustus F. Hawkins, Former Member, United States House of Representatives, Chairman, House Committee on Education and Labor
• 1987 - The Honorable William D. Ford, Former Member, United States House of Representatives, Former Chairman, House Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education and The Honorable Robert T. Stafford, Former Member, United States Senate, Former Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and the Humanities
• 1985 - Mr. Francis Keppel, Former Commissioner, United States Office of Education, Former Chairman, National Student Aid Coalition and The Honorable Terrel H. Bell, Former Secretary, United States Department of Education
• 1984 - The Honorable Carl D. Perkins, Former Member, United States House of Representatives
  Former Chairman, House Committee on Education and Labor
• 1983 - Mr. James W. Moore, Former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Student
  Financial Assistance, United States Department of Education
• 1977 - The Honorable Claiborne DeBorda Pell, Member, United States Senate; Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts and Humanities
• 1974 - Mr. John F. Morse, Former Director of Governmental Relations, American Council on Education and Dr. Peter P. Muirhead, Former Deputy Commissioner for Postsecondary Education, United States Office of Education
• 1971 - The Honorable Edith Green, Former Member, United States House of Representatives
  Former Chairman, House Special Subcommittee on Education