Awardees Exemplify Excellence in Serving Students and the Financial Aid Profession

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allie Arcese
Sr. Director, Strategic Communications
(202) 785-6954
[email protected]

ANAHEIM, CA, JUNE 27, 2025 – Each year, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) presents awards to deserving members of the financial aid profession and higher education community. These awards are reviewed and selected annually by NASFAA's Awards Committee and ratified by the Board of Directors. They are presented each year at the National Conference, with more than 2,600 student aid professionals from across the country in attendance.

The Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest awards that NASFAA bestows, may be awarded either for significant contributions in the furtherance of NASFAA's goals over a sustained period of time or for a single contribution of momentous importance. The 2025 award was given to: 

• Kristi Jovell, FAAC^®, Director of Strategic Financial Aid Initiatives at Johns Hopkins University and NASFAA's 2024-25 National Chair.
  With more than two decades of experience in financial aid and enrollment management, Kristi has a proven track record of innovation, leadership, and strategic vision. Throughout her career, Kristi has worked extensively with both graduate and undergraduate populations, developing financial aid strategies that align with diverse student needs and institutional goals. Her career highlights also include serving as the current national chair of NASFAA and past president of EASFAA, as well as leadership roles at Suffolk University Law School and Champlain College. Kristi has served on NASFAA's Board of Directors as EASFAA regional representative and representative-at-large, has held volunteer roles at the state, regional, and national level, and is a frequent conference and webinar presenter. As a first-generation college student and Pell Grant recipient, Kristi is passionate about access to higher education and its ability to change the trajectory of students' lives. 

• Beth Maglione, NASFAA Executive Vice President.  
  Beth Maglione, NASFAA's longtime Executive Vice President, was appointed as NASFAA's interim president to ensure operational continuity while the NASFAA Board of Directors conducted a national presidential search. Beth brought over 20 years of experience in higher education leadership, primarily at NASFAA, to her role as interim president. For most of the preceding decade, she served as the organization's second-in-command, liaison to the Board of Directors, and a key operational and departmental leader. Before her interim role, she directly oversaw the organization's communications, public relations, marketing, community, membership, human resources, and finance departments, while also working closely on messaging, policy, ethics, and DEI initiatives.

The Meritorious Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made either an important single contribution to NASFAA or the profession, or multiple significant contributions. The 2025 award was given to:

• Dr. Sharon Oliver, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, North Carolina Central University. 
  Sharon brings over 25 years of experience in financial aid and higher education leadership and is a past president of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA) and the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA). She has also served as a regional representative on NASFAA's Board of Directors. Sharon's dedication to the profession is evident in her extensive service to NASFAA, where she has contributed to 30 committees, including the Conference Mentor Task Force, Nominations & Elections Committee, Diversity Leadership Mentor program, and Association Governance Committee. Her most notable recent contribution is her leadership as Chair of NASFAA's Presidential Search Committee (PSC), a role that has required her to navigate a highly visible yet confidential process with professionalism, diplomacy, and strategic insight. Sharon exemplifies the spirit of this award through both her exceptional leadership in a critical moment for the association and her significant, ongoing contributions to NASFAA's mission.

• Daniel Barkowitz, Assistant Vice President, Office of Student Financial Assistance & Student Employment, University of Miami.
  Throughout his career, Daniel has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the financial aid profession, fostering equity in education, and developing innovative solutions that benefit students, families, and institutions. A key example of his leadership is his work on FAFSA issue identification, beta testing, and community education. Daniel proactively tracked and addressed critical FAFSA issues for the 2024-25 cycle, educating the community and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Daniel was instrumental in the development of the Certified Financial Aid Administrator^® Program. As the inaugural chair of the program Commission, he played a central role in defining the certification's scope and guiding its successful adoption. Daniel also served as president of the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA) during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he swiftly transitioned an in-person conference to a series of virtual sessions, demonstrating agility and foresight at a time of uncertainty. 

The Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award is presented each year to an individual or organization chosen for their contributions to the literature on student financial aid. Published works must exemplify the highest quality of research methodology, analysis, or topical writing on the subject of student financial aid or its administration. In 2025, the award was given to:

• Dr. Zach Taylor, Assistant Professor, University of Southern Mississippi.
  Zach has provided many research contributions to a variety of financial aid topics, from understanding debt letters to studying the work of college peer financial mentors, evaluating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and looking at how we communicate with students. Zach has a strong connection to the practical work behind his research. He consistently supports the research of others and advocates for providing tangible resources to financial aid administrators to enhance their day-to-day operations. His Google Scholar page is a testament to his commitment to our industry. 

NASFAA's Gold Star Award recognizes innovative ideas in the financial aid arena at any level, targeted toward any constituency. This award is open to individuals working at NASFAA member institutions, regional associations, and state associations. In 2025, the award was presented to: 

• Better FAFSA Help
  This space was created on Facebook to support students, parents, and others navigating the financial aid process, including the "Better FAFSA" and other financial aid-related questions or concerns. Established to combat misinformation during the challenging 2023-24 FAFSA rollout, the group aimed to provide a trusted and supportive community where members can openly discuss, ask for help, and share their experiences. Recognizing the need for accurate guidance, Carrie Short formed this group, and under her leadership, the group has grown to over 31,000 members. It is staffed by dedicated financial aid administrators serving as moderators.

• Financial Aid Follies
  The Facebook group "Financial Aid Follies" started as a space for financial aid administrators to share stories and experiences with colleagues who would understand and relate. Over time, the group grew to more than 5,300 members and became a valuable resource for receiving peer-to-peer information. In the past year, especially, group members have weighed in on questions related to FAFSA simplification and GE/FVT reporting.

The association also presented six Regional Leadership Awards to recipients who have exhibited high integrity and character, have shown creative leadership, and have inspired and encouraged others to actively participate in professional development. One award was given in each of six regions to:

• EASFAA – Marie Johnson, FAAC^®, Director of Student Financial Services, University of Vermont
• MASFAA – Laura Rogers, Associate Director of Compliance, University of Chicago
• RMASFAA – Dr. Angela Karlin, Assistant Vice Provost/Director of Financial Aid, University of Kansas
• SASFAA – Celena Tulloss, FAAC^®, Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Management & Executive Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Auburn University
• SWASFAA – Ben Montecillo, Executive Director, University of Houston
• WASFAA – Nicole McMillin, FAAC^®, Director of Financial Aid, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

To request an interview with a NASFAA spokesperson, please email [email protected] or call (202) 785-6954.

About NASFAA 

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the U.S. 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.