Executive Leadership Collective
2026-27 Task Force Charter
Timeline & Commitment
Start date: July 2026
End date: June 2027
Zoom calls and emails will take place regularly, as needed, for all members utilizing video conferences. An in-person meeting in the spring/summer to brainstorm and finalize the group recommendations is available per Chair discretion.
Composition
2026-27 Chair: Tina Lamb
Members:
- Sandra Neel (2027-28 Chair)
- Danielle Hayden
- Patti Kohler
- Art Young
NASFAA Staff Liaisons**: Christine Attardo, Sydney Evans, Dana Kelly, Margot Manning, Rachel Rotunda
** In addition to typical Liaison duties, staff should ensure all three chairs are registered (or proactively checked and prioritized) for events, and clarify that the chair-elect serves as the primary ELC attendee with backup from the other chairs and NASFAA leadership as needed.
Background & Purpose
In the 2023-2024 year, NASFAA established the inaugural Executive Leadership Collective, a community of financial aid leaders who are committed to championing the profession and leading at the intersection of ethics, institutional sustainability, and advocacy for public policy. As such, NASFAA will continue to offer a year-long curriculum and community engagement opportunity specifically and exclusively for financial aid principals who oversee the financial aid office's strategic and/or operational functions. NASFAA has and will continue to provide an annual cohort the opportunity to discuss high-level issues within a closed-door setting and allow them to interact with other high-level individuals from Congress, federal agencies, and/or the higher education community. This community will grow over time and comprise the alumni of annual cohorts of qualified participants who will recommit to these principles through continued participation.
The 2026-2027 Task Force will develop and solidify the curriculum, provide a fully developed outline of scheduled events, and participate with the prior cohorts throughout the year. The task force is expected to develop an outline for the entire year's curriculum in the spring/summer of 2026. In recognition of the task force's work, registration fees will be waived for all task force members. However, task force members will be expected to cover their own travel expenses to each of the events.
Indicators of Success & Outcomes
The task force will develop content and secure speakers/facilitators around a 10-month curriculum (September-June) for an annual cohort of 50 qualified professionals. The curriculum will be designed to engage participants in discussion and analysis of consequences, ethics, and access to further higher education and its impacts on the profession.
The goals of the curriculum are to:
- Maintain engagement as a peer group,
- Create opportunities for group work on thought-provoking topics,
- Create networking opportunities for financial aid leaders,
- Utilize group experience to develop solutions that can be executed on campus and
- Provide exposure to higher education thought leadership.
This task force will work within the previously created framework for this group.
Task Force Members' Duties & Responsibilities
- ELC Chair will keep the sitting National Chair apprised on curriculum planning programming.
- Develop a curriculum towards an exceptional participant experience.
- Facilitate and lead dynamic discussions on key higher education policies and practices, fostering engagement and critical thinking.
- Attend all task force meetings and conference calls and participate in the deliberations.
- Notify the task force chair and the staff liaisons if circumstances prevent attendance at a particular meeting.
- Adhere to deadlines for submission of task force assignments.
- Review all agenda items and background documents before each task force meeting and come prepared for the discussions.
- Serve as recording secretary for a task force meeting if requested by the task force chair.
Budget
A budget of $10,000 annually for an in-person task force meeting has been allocated for use at the discretion of the Chair. The prior task force did not utilize this option.
