NASFAA Recognized With ASAE 2020 "Power of A" Silver Award

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators' Diversity Leadership Program was acknowledged for its power to foster engaged, solution-oriented, and diverse leaders within the profession.

Monday, August 17, 2020 — The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is honored to have been named one of The Center for Association Leadership's (ASAE) 2020 “Power of A” Silver Award winners for its Diversity Leadership ProgramASAE Silver Winner

America’s institutions of higher education, like America itself, are increasingly diverse. Likewise, the population of students receiving financial aid is more widely diverse than ever, and facing greater challenges in terms of rapidly accelerating debt levels and an increasing workforce demand for college access, completion, and success. To meet college students where they are, advocate for their needs, and minimize life-disrupting levels of debt, it became clear that NASFAA needed to foster engaged, solution-oriented leaders within the student financial aid administrator profession, particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented groups.

In 2015, NASFAA’s Board of Directors affirmed the association’s commitment to diversity and inclusion with the creation of its current Diversity and Inclusion Statement and, in 2017, NASFAA examined ways to take action on and operationalize its ideals related to diversity. Through conversations with its Association Governance Committee, diversity officer, Board leadership, and a group of regional association presidents, the idea of a Diversity Leadership Program was born.

In the first two years of its existence, NASFAA’s Diversity Leadership Program has made significant progress in advancing the careers of program participants and providing them with important professional development; providing individuals from identified under-represented groups within the association community with support, access, and opportunities for leadership; and providing the association community with increased access to a diverse pool of talented leaders. Members of NASFAA’s Diversity Leadership Program have gone on to serve on NASFAA task forces and working groups, on NASFAA’s Board of Directors, and as elected officials for their state and regional associations.

"NASFAA is committed to diversity and inclusion throughout all of its activities and it is vital that NASFAA leadership reflects the diversity of the members we serve,” said NASFAA President Justin Draeger. “This program was created, in part, to ensure that our leadership represents the very best perspectives of our multifaceted membership. We’re grateful to be recognized for these efforts.” 

The program is ongoing and is now in the second of three years funded by NASFAA’s Board of Directors. At the conclusion of the three-year beta period, the program will yield no fewer than 18 individuals who are prepared to step immediately into leadership roles on their campuses and within their professional associations. NASFAA will then assess for effectiveness and establish a plan for future funding of the program.  

To request an interview with a NASFAA spokesperson or learn more about NASFAA’s efforts to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion, please email Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Powers.

About the Power of A Awards:

ASAE’s Power of A (association) Awards, the industry’s highest honor, recognize the association community’s valuable contributions on the local, national and global levels.  The Power of A Awards reward the outstanding accomplishments of associations and industry professionals who work tirelessly to solve problems, and strengthen lives, the workforce, the economy, and the world.

The 2020 award categories include The Power of Industry/Professional Advancement, The Power of Community Support and Engagement, The Power of Global Development, The Power of Diversity and Inclusion, and The Power of Advocacy.

About NASFAA

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 28,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit www.nasfaa.org.

Publication Date: 8/13/2020

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