Timeline & Commitment

Start date: July 2026
End date: June 2027

All board members will commit to no less than a two-year term of service, allowing for team continuity with staggered membership cycles. Members demonstrating strong engagement may be invited to extend their terms, if mutually beneficial. 

The advisory board will meet virtually every 4-6 weeks, or as determined by the current chair, with in-person meetings for available members at NASFAA’s annual conferences. Members may also be asked to participate in additional subcommittee meetings as specific projects arise, and/or collaborate with regional and state association conference organizers to conduct in-person vendor meetings. Any travel-related expenses related to this task force are the responsibility of the members.

Composition

Leadership

Chair 

• Set the agenda and priorities for the group’s mission during tenure
• Schedule and moderate regular advisory calls
• Provide leadership and act as the group representative to outside constituents 
• Select/nominate chair elect and future board members

Past Chair

• Serving one additional year post-term as a resource and sounding board for the current chair

Chair Elect

• Selected at the beginning of the current chair’s second year of service
• Shadow and assist the current chair as needed
• Record meeting minutes

Membership

• Membership is limited to organizations with active NASFAA associate membership standing. Should a current member lose that designation, the Chair has the option to evaluate, in conjunction with NASFAA staff liaisons, the timing of a replacement and/or the extension of grace should the individual move to another associate member organization.
• Additionally, members must have demonstrated a willingness to partner with NASFAA in activities and initiatives that further the financial aid profession. Should a member become unable to fulfill the terms of their commitment, the acting chair will review provisions to allow member(s) to vacate their position. 
• Advisory board may consist of up to twelve members from any of the following industry sectors: Bank/Lender, Consultant, Guarantor, Not-for- Profit/State/Federal Agency, Secondary Market, Servicer, and Technology. Best efforts will be made to include new associate member volunteers that incorporate diverse representation from small, mid-size, and large business partners, different lines of business, sponsorship levels, and lengths of membership. NASFAA National Conference Platinum sponsors will be given preferred membership consideration. 

Current Members

• Stephanie Wells, Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Chair
• Brendon Sanger, ELM Resources, Chair Elect
  • Dean Bentley, College Board, Member
  • Brenda Brown, College Aid Services, Member
  • Katrina Delgrosso, College Ave, Member
  • Crystal DeLong, Citizens/College Raptor
  • Kristin Hawley-Johnson, Sallie
  • Jason Kahn, SoFi, Member
  • Kumba McGill, Ascent Funding, Member
  • Kevin McNamara, Earnest, Member
  • Elizabeth Rihl Lewinsky, Tuition Exchange, Member
  • Marc Schoonover, ELFI, Member
  • Leah Young, Juno, Member
• NASFAA Staff Liaisons: Dana Kelly, Margot Manning, and Carissa Uhlman-Campana

Background & Purpose

NASFAA represents over 29,000 student financial assistance 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. 

NASFAA’s mission is to provide essential professional development, information, and services to financial aid administrators, advocate for public policies that increase student access and success in postsecondary education, and nurture community throughout the financial aid profession. 

In alignment with the above stated goals, the NASFAA Associate Member Advisory Board (NAMAB) is chartered to help NASFAA better engage Associate Members, respond to evolving needs among solutions providers and the general community, and find solutions and opportunities that are mutually beneficial to NASFAA’s mission and Associate Member collective goals. This may be accomplished through continual review of NASFAA Associate Member corporate opportunities, website content, conference activities and pricing, and group inclusion and visibility. 

Advisory Board Members’ Duties & Responsibilities

Advisory Board Specific Duties

NAMAB is chartered with the intent of improving partnerships between the Associate Member collective and NASFAA, through better engagement with NASFAA itself, and by serving as Associate Member liaisons. 

The role of the Board is to examine how NASFAA may best serve the needs of their Associate Members through existing opportunities, as well as identify new opportunities for partnership. Specific areas for consideration include:

• Do Associate Members feel seen/heard? Do they know how to connect with NASFAA?
• Are Associate Members aware of NAMAB?
• How can NASFAA impact member engagement?
• How can NASFAA promote Associate Member conference participation?
• How can Associate Member corporate opportunities have better ROI?

Goals

• Finalize a formal process whereby the advisory group selects chair positions and overall membership composition.
• Collaborate to develop and launch an electronic volunteer form for associate members to express interest in joining the advisory board. 
• Collaborate to develop and launch an electronic form for associate members to express ideas, opportunities, and/or concerns to the advisory board.

General Duties & Expectations

• Represent and promote NAMAB within the Associate Member community, at NASFAA events, and within regional and state associations;
• Provide updates and highlight group progress to the Associate Member community via meeting minutes and other appropriate channels such as newsletter submissions, webinars, regional meetings, etc. 
• Conduct Associate Member surveys as needed, administered by NASFAA; 
• Attend and participate in all advisory board meetings. Notify the advisory board chair and the staff liaison if circumstances prevent attendance and select a proxy member of same organization to attend;
• Adhere to deadlines for submission of advisory board tasks;
• Review all agenda items and background documents prior to each meeting and come prepared to discuss;
• Serve as recording secretary for an advisory board meeting if requested by the chair.
• If any member cannot meet these expectations, they must notify the chair so that their role can be filled by an alternate. The chair may also elect to remove non-participating members at his/her discretion. 

Indicators of Success & Outcomes

• Improved relationships, participation, and communication between NASFAA and its Associate Members. 
• Revised marketing, exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities for Associate Members, developed with the guidance and feedback from this group.