NASFAA Movers & Shakers
NASFAA members are always moving ahead, whether enhancing their skills in their current roles, accepting promotions or job changes, or discovering new pathways as retirees. Below are a few colleagues who were honored with awards or recognitions or made changes in their professional lives in 2026-27.
Let NASFAA and your colleagues know about your career developments by completing the "Movers and Shakers" form. We'll review your submission and then post your update on this page and on NASFAA's social media accounts for all to see.
This Week's Movers & Shakers
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*NEW* September 25, 2026 – Brandi Blanton, currently the director of financial aid at the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine at Rowan University, graduated from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Leadership Academy. Brandi is also a past participant of NASFAA’s Developing Leaders Pipeline (DLP). |
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| *NEW* August 31, 2026 – Victoria Motley, FAAC®, currently a federal programs manager at the University of Florida, earned her M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education (SPHE). |
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Job Changes and Promotions
- November 2, 2026 – Heather Bonaventura was promoted from assistant director of financial aid to director of financial aid at Waynesburg University.
- September 15, 2026 – Elines Antonio was promoted from financial aid administrator to assistant director of financial aid operations at New York University.
- September 15, 2026 – David Belanger, formerly the director of student financial services at Smith College, is now the director of financial aid at Dartmouth College.
- September 14, 2026 – Brynn Juranek, formerly the director of financial aid, processing, and awarding at Rasmussen University, is now the director of financial aid at Golden Gate University.
- September 9, 2026 – Jayme Jarrett, FAAC®, formerly the director of financial aid at Bluffton University, is now the assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of financial aid at Ohio Northern University.
- September 8, 2026 – Chuck Knepfle is now the vice chancellor for enrollment management and student affairs at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
- September 8, 2026 – Daniel Barkowitz, FAAC®, formerly the assistant vice president of financial assistance and student employment at the University of Miami, is now the assistant vice president of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid at Penn State University.
- September 4, 2026 – Jessica Cooper was promoted from interim financial aid coordinator to director of financial aid at West Shore Community College.
- September 1, 2026 – Heather Farabee was promoted from administrative assistant to assistant director of financial aid at Waynesburg University.
- September 1, 2026 – Kyle Parsons, FAAC®, was promoted from director of financial aid and scholarships to vice president of student financial aid and enrollment management at Augusta University.
- August 24, 2026 – Mary Webb was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid at Louisiana Tech University.
- August 18, 2026 – Sara Navarro, formerly the assistant director of curriculum management and student aid, is now the assistant director of financial aid and scholarships at the University of North Texas at Dallas.
- August 17, 2026 – Felicia Soderberg was promoted from senior financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid counseling at New York University.
- August 17, 2026 – Alondra Mejia was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid counseling at New York University.
- August 17, 2026 – Meg Bahlke, formerly a financial aid analyst at Mid Michigan College, is now the associate director at Northwood University.
- August 12, 2026 – Judy Cuellar is now an independent consultant for Financial Aid Services (FAS).
- August 1, 2026 – Robert Thompson was promoted from financial aid compliance and operations officer to manager of compliance and development at Horry Georgetown Technical College (HGTC).
- August 1, 2026 – Kimber Wellman, FAAC®, is now the associate director of scholarships and state aid at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- July 28, 2026 – Jazzmine Golden, formerly the client engagement specialist and manager at College Aid Services, is now the associate director of non-federal financial aid at the Galen College of Nursing.
- July 16, 2026 – Karen Ruehlman, FAAC®, formerly the associate vice president of financial aid and scholarships at Kennesaw State University, is now the associate vice chancellor for student enrollment services at The University System of Georgia.
- July 6, 2026 – Candice Sutliff, FAAC®, was promoted from associate director to director at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
- July 6, 2026 – Tangar Young, formerly the director of financial aid at South Carolina State University, is now the director of financial aid at Johnson C. Smith University.
- July 6, 2026 – Nancy Beasley, FAAC®, formerly the student financial planning advisor at Fielding Graduate University, is now the assistant director of financial aid at Saint Michael's College.
- July 1, 2026 – Andrew Smith was promoted from financial aid counselor to senior financial aid counselor at Converse University.
- July 1, 2026 – Danielle Fuller was promoted from student accounts manager to financial aid counselor at Converse University.
Retirements
- September 30, 2026 – Melinda Middleton, currently the director of financial aid at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, will retire in September after 36 years of working in financial aid.
- September 9, 2026 – Debbie Murphy, currently a regional sales director at Ascendium Education Solutions, Inc., will retire in September after 35 years of working in financial aid.
- September 1, 2026 – Cheryl Storie, currently the associate vice president of financial aid at University of Maryland Global Campus, will retire in September after 41 years of working in financial aid.
Awards, Recognitions, and Others
- August 7, 2026 – Missy Ostrander earned a Business Leadership Certificate from WGU, where she is currently a financial aid coordinator.
Publication Date: 10/1/2026
