Meritorious Achievement Award
This award is presented to an individual who has made an important contribution to the Association or to the profession. To receive a Meritorious Achievement Award the individual should have made either an important single contribution to the Association or the profession; or significant multiple contributions to the Association or the profession.
Watch 2025 Award Winners Video on YouTube
2025 Meritorious Achievement Award Winners
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.