Executive Leadership Collective
The Executive Leadership Collective (ELC) is an exclusive professional development opportunity for experienced financial aid leaders. The ELC will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss pressing issues in a closed-door setting, and interact with other noteworthy individuals from Congress, federal agencies, and the higher education community at large. By creating this group, NASFAA seeks to establish a community of seasoned financial aid leaders who will commit to championing the profession and leading at the intersection of ethics, institutional stability, and advocacy for student aid policy.
The ELC, through your participation and engagement, will come together to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive strategy. Through the collective, executives can gain access to a diverse range of perspectives, experiences, and expertise. This will serve to identify new opportunities, navigate challenges, and develop more effective leadership strategies. Additionally, the collective will serve as a valuable networking opportunity, allowing executives to build relationships with their principals in higher education.
Hear what ELC members have to say about their participation in the collective.
Meet the 2024-25 Executive Leadership Collective
2025-26 Cohort Information
With each ELC cohort, this community of leaders will continue to grow, offering more opportunities for participation and collaboration. Participation in the 2025-26 cohort includes:
- A special reception at the NASFAA 2025 National Conference in Anaheim for those in attendance.
- An in-person kick-off event in Washington, D.C.; September 14-16, 2025.
- Registration for an exclusive track at NASFAA's Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo in February 2026.
- Registration for the NASFAA 2026 National Conference, including special events celebrating this group.
- Virtual meetings that may cover topics related to federal and state policy changes, affordability and access, leveraging technology, student loan repayment policies and other hot topics.
- Special access to higher education policymakers and thought leaders.
The $4,000 registration fee for the Executive Leadership Collective includes registration fees for both the 2026 NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo and the 2026 NASFAA National Conference. Participant travel costs, including hotel, are not included. Online payment via credit card is due at the time of registration, so please plan accordingly.
Registration for the program will open in May 2025 and we encourage you to register as early as possible to secure your spot. Because we limit the number of participants, we will also limit registrations to one individual per school each year.
Participation Requirements:
- Current NASFAA Membership
- Actively serving as a principal within the aid office (director or higher)
- Recommended: At least seven years of experience in a leadership role
Should an ELC member no longer meet either requirement during the cohort year, please contact [email protected] to discuss your participation options.
Registration for the 2025-26 Executive Leadership Collective cohort will open May 5, 2025.
