Welcome to the Still-Summer-Not-Quite-Fall Edition
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I know it’s back-to-school time, football has already started, there are already Christmas decorations in the stores, all of this usually means autumn is imminent, but don’t get your pumpkins out just yet - there will be no fall puns in this edition of A.M. News. Even though much of this newsletter is looking to the months ahead, we’ve still got a wee bit of summer left, and I’ve still got another beach trip to take. So, let’s all agree to wring every bit of summer out of the next month or so, even as we rush headlong into the 2026-27 academic year. Cheers to enjoying your summer!
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In this edition:
- Welcome New Members
- And Welcome New (Board) Members
- Diamonds (and Fireworks) In the Sky
- A Decent Proposal
- FYI on LLCE
- All the Cool Kids Are Doing It
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Welcome, New & Returning Associate Members!
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NASFAA welcomes our new and returning members! We're happy to have you with us:
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Say Hello to your 2026-27 NAMAB Members!
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If you haven’t heard of the NASFAA Associate Member Advisory Board (NAMAB) yet, now’s a great time to learn more as they begin the 2026-27 charter year.
NAMAB is a volunteer committee composed of associate members who, along with NASFAA staff, meet monthly to shape the associate member experience within the broader NASFAA community. Under the leadership of NAMAB chair Stephanie Wells and chair-elect Brendon Sanger, this group actively seeks feedback from associate members throughout the year at regional and state conferences to advance their concerns and ideas. This year, we welcome new members from Citizens, College Board, ELFI, and Juno.
Learn more about the board’s current objectives in the 2026-27 charter and the monthly meeting minutes, or by viewing the video below. You may also submit questions or feedback via this feedback form.
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Celebrating 60 Years at the NASFAA 2026 National Conference
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A time was had at the NASFAA 2026 National Conference in June! This year’s event featured our usual stellar lineup of speakers, sessions, activities, and exhibit hall magic, along with some truly unforgettable special touches in honor of NASFAA’s 60th anniversary. From fireworks to a champagne lounge to a black-tie dance celebration and every moment in between, it was an event to remember. Thank you to all of our exhibitors and sponsors who joined us in making this year’s conference one of our best yet.
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- 2,477 attendees
- 80% of respondents enjoyed speaking with exhibitors.
- 86% of respondents attended events in the Innovation Hall.
- 71 exhibitors
- 89% of exhibitors had enough quality interactions to justify attendance.
- 94% of exhibitors would recommend this conference to others.
Relive some of the best conference moments with our photo galleries:
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Get Ready: NASFAA 2027 Call for Proposals
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Fresh off wrapping up the 2026 National Conference, we roll right into planning for next year by opening our 2027 call for proposals in late August. Here are a few tips to help you write that (hopefully) winning session proposal.
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- Align your session proposal with one of our seven financial aid competencies.
- Be informative, not salesy. Address a specific topic, not how your product or program can fix it. Leave the sales talk for the Innovation Hall and let your mastery of the topic be your calling card.
- Partner with someone on the front lines.
- DO: include a higher education professional co-presenter.
- DO: have them serve as the session submitter.
- DO: highlight in your proposal any non-academic guest speakers outside your organization with in-depth knowledge of your particular topic.
- DON’T: Let your co-presenter veer into a product testimonial for your organization.
- Think outside the box for tapping speakers within your organization: the legal team can explain especially tricky topics, or your HR pros can weigh in on staffing, training, or professional development sessions. Be sure to highlight the presenter(s) unique qualifications in your submission. Help our selection committee understand that it’s not just multiple random members of your organization, but those who can offer a specialized perspective on and mastery of the topic.
- Write a robust proposal. We receive so many submissions that only the most well-formed proposals rise to the top. Don’t leave the selection committee guessing as to what you’ll cover by only providing broad brush strokes. Be as descriptive and explanatory as possible when crafting your session outline.
Keep an eye on Today’s News for the call for proposals announcement, and don’t forget to register now to exhibit or sponsor at the NASFAA 2027 National Conference.
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…and Get Ready for NASFAA 2027 LLCE
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Exhibitor and sponsor registration is also open for the 2027 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo (LLCE) next February at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
Join over 485 attendees from across the country for our annual conference serving those in leadership positions at their institutions, with an intensive focus on financial aid and management pathways, as well as exposure to legislative processes and representative outreach.
At only $1,200, exhibitor spots sell out quickly, so don’t delay in learning more about LLCE and signing up to exhibit or sponsor.
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New Graduate & Professional Community Slack Channel
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If you love the Graduate & Professional Listserv, you’re going to really geek out at the conversations happening in NASFAA Communities’ newest Slack channel.
The Graduate & Professional Community channel is a great way to stay on top of grad/prof issues and learn more about the problems schools face and the solutions they may need.
Ready to join the rest of the grad-prof cool kids? Existing members of the NASFAA Communities on Slack may simply join the #community-grad-prof channel, while new members should complete the interest form.
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What do you want to read about in the next edition of A.M. News? Send me your thoughts or feedback, and here’s to a great 2026-27 year ahead!
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