NASFAA Names Justin Draeger as Next President and CEO

After a transparent and exhaustive national search, NASFAA has selected Justin Draeger to serve as the association's next president and CEO. The presidential search committee selected and the Board of Directors unanimously ratified Mr. Draeger based on his significant and unique set of skills, experiences and qualifications. This includes a comprehensive knowledge of financial aid, a demonstrated dedication to helping underserved students access higher education, and a progressive vision to strengthen the association.

"NASFAA's Presidential Search Committee put all candidates through an intense and grueling interview and vetting process," said Search Committee Chair Gerald Bird. "Throughout the search, Justin consistently rose to the top of the pack by demonstrating a commitment to furthering the goals of NASFAA and its members, a clear and attainable vision for achieving those goals, and a remarkable ability to lead and inspire."

Mr. Draeger has also demonstrated these qualities throughout his career, including his years at NASFAA. Highlights from his career include:

Working as an aid director on campus where he helped lower the institutional default rate to zero percent
Working first-hand with low-income, underserved minority populations while coordinating the efforts of 200 full-time volunteers
Resolving regulatory issues as a lead analyst for a state-based guaranty agency, helping schools resolve regulatory issues
Helping raise the visibility and reputation of the financial aid profession as NASFAA's chief spokesperson
Serving as a lead negotiator in negotiated rulemaking and helping bring negotiations to final consensus.
Developing policy positions for NASFAA and advocating those positions to Congress, the White House, the Department of Education, and higher education associations

"I have had the privilege to work with Justin over the last several years and during that time he consistently demonstrated the qualities needed to effectively lead the association," said NASFAA's 2009-10 National Chair Barry Simmons. "I can't think of anyone more deserving of -- or qualified for -- this position. The Board and I are excited to work with Justin to strengthen the association in the coming years."

"I am honored and humbled to be named NASFAA's next president and CEO," Draeger said. "I have a deep respect for the association, its history, and most especially, its members. As financial aid professionals and student advocates, we find ourselves at a unique point in history where it will take all of our collective effort to ensure no qualified student is ever denied access to a college education because of lack of financial resources. As president, my efforts will be squarely focused on accomplishing a specific set of goals that will increase the value of NASFAA membership and the impact of our united voices."

As president, Mr. Draeger will report to the Board of Directors and provide leadership for the Association membership and staff to enhance services and resources provided by NASFAA. He will also serve as the primary voice of NASFAA and as the liaison between the Association and members, education association partners, the media, the Congress, the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and other government agencies. Following a two-month leadership transition, NASFAA plans to formally introduce Mr. Draeger as president and CEO to the membership at NASFAA's Annual National Conference in Denver this July.

Throughout the search NASFAA's leadership and the search committee took extraordinary steps to ensure that the entire process was open and transparent, above and beyond what is considered the norm in a search of this kind. Perhaps most significantly, we announced the names of our finalists publicly before they were interviewed by the entire NASFAA board. This was so that members could have the opportunity to comment specifically about finalists. In addition, the entire staff of NASFAA was given the opportunity to interview and interact with each finalist, and report on these interactions to the board. Lastly, our Board meeting in Chicago April 25-26 was open to all NASFAA members, who were encouraged to come and view the finalists' interviews, submit questions for the finalists, and even to address the board formally.

To chronicle the search and inform members and the public about every step of the process, NASFAA has since November 2009 maintained a regularly updated CEO search website.

Posted 05/06/10 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit website questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.