National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Leadership

As a national, professional association, NASFAA is led by the financial aid administrators who make up the core of its membership. NASFAA institutional members may be elected to the Board of Directors, which is the governing body of the Association. The Board is vested with all powers to manage the Association’s business, property, and assets, and is responsible for hiring and reviewing the president. The president is responsible for NASFAA’s day-to-day operations and the oversight and direction of the association’s employees.

2012-13 National Chair Ron Day

Outgoing National Chair Pam Fowler passes the gavel to incoming Chair Ron Day at the 2012 NASFAA National Conference.  

President Justin Draeger

Justin Draeger, is President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. He is a first-generation, undergraduate and graduate degree recipient who has spent his career assisting disadvantaged populations to achieve their goals and better their communities. Since 2002, Justin has been engaged in administering, interpreting, communicating, or developing student financial aid policy. He serves as the primary voice of NASFAA and as the liaison between the association and members, education community partners, the Congress, the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, other government agencies, and the media. As a spokesperson of the association, Justin has been featured on The Today Show on NBC, National Public Radio, CNBC, C-SPAN and in numerous national publications. Justin began his career in student aid working as a financial aid director in Michigan and went on to work for the Michigan Guaranty Agency as a lead regulatory analyst before joining NASFAA in 2006. Prior to his appointment as President, Justin worked in the communications and public policy departments at NASFAA. Justin volunteers and serves on the board of regents of Baker College and other organizations that promote community health and education. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Resource Management from Brigham Young University and a Master’s in Business Administration Finance from Baker College.

Mr. Ron Day, Kennesaw State University (National Chair). Ron Day is Director of Financial Aid for Georgia’s Kennesaw State University and has worked in financial aid at a number of institutions in the South since he began his career in the financial aid profession in 1983. He has held various leadership positions in the South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia state associations and has served his regional association of SASFAA as President in 2003-04. Ron has also given back to his national association through his membership on the Board of Directors in 2003-05 and at the present time and through a wide range of committee work, ranging from AGMC to Awards to Finance to Leadership.

Mr. Craig Munier, University of Nebraska (National Chair-Elect). Craig Munier has been in student financial aid since 1982 and higher education administration since 1976. Currently the Director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Craig was Associate Director of Financial Aid at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign for 11 years and worked in financial aid at Iowa State University.  In addition, he worked for six years in admissions at a small, private, liberal arts college and a community college, both in Iowa. He is past National Chair of the Coalition of State University Aid Administrators (COSUAA), past chair of the National Direct Student Loan Coalition (NDSLC), and recently served as chair of the NASFAA Federal Issues Committee.  He has served as a trainer for NASFAA and the U.S. Department of Education. He holds a BA from the University of Northern Iowa and an MS from Iowa State University.

Mrs. Pamela Fowler, University of Michigan (Past National Chair). Pamela Fowler has been at the University of Michigan since 1997 and has over 25 years of experience in the financial aid profession.  Over the years she has been active in state, regional, and national professional associations as a trainer, speaker, and committee chair.  She has been the recipient of several awards including the MSFAA Distinguished Service award and the MASFAA Meritorious Service award.  She is a former MASFAA President and has also served on NASFAA’s Board of Directors as both a regional representative and a representative-at-large.  Fowler helped to create the NASFAA Standards of Excellence Review Program.  She is a five time participant on the Department of Education’s Negotiated Rulemaking committee, past National Chair of the Coalition of State and University Aid Administrators, and an active member of The College Board.