December State and Regional Updates
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations.
This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Maine, New York, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, and the Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA).
Jamie Santiago, president of MASFAA (Maine), shares that the association had a town hall meeting in October. The meeting coincided with a visit from NASFAA’s Jill Desjean, Gena Boling, vice president of EASFAA and associate vice provost of enrollment at Cornell University, and Allison Feikes, senior legislative assistant to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Notably, the town hall meeting was held to address several issues students, families, and financial aid administrators (FAAs) encountered with the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA.
A workshop was also provided on mental health tips for financial aid administrators by Stephanie Spiller, assistant director of financial aid compliance and financial literacy at the University of Southern Maine. Additionally at this event, Will O'Shea, associate director of financial aid at Maine College of Art and Design, was recognized with the Candace Johnson Vinette Award for distinguished service.
Katy Weisenburger, president of WASFAA (Wisconsin), shares that the association hosted a "bite-sized" conference in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The day was filled with Federal Pell Grant information, interactive sessions, and “fin-tastic” networking opportunities.
Robert Zasso, president of NYSFAAA (New York), shares that the association recently held their 56th annual conference in Buffalo, New York. The conference, themed "Leading the Charge," was attended by over 190 members and included sessions such as a NASFAA update, discussions on FAFSA simplification, and the launch of the 2025-26 FAFSA.
Additionally, the presidency of NYSFAAA has transitioned from Patti Beers of Binghamton University to Robert Zasso of Dutchess Community College.
Robert adds that NYSFAAA hosted its annual FAFSA and New York State Aid training event on November 22, along with a series of regional meetings across the state. The next annual NYSFAAA conference is scheduled for October 14-17, 2025, in Rochester, New York.
James Kellam, president of SCASFAA (South Carolina), shared that the SCASFAA Annual Conference was held on November 10-13 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. There were over 140 people in attendance. The conference’s theme was "SCASFAA Changes the World, One Student at a Time."
Bambie Roy, president of ILASFAA (Illinois), shares that along with fall workshops, the association hosted its 2024 Leadership Academy. For the Leadership Academy, members gathered in Springfield, Illinois, for a three-day workshop on leadership and advocacy. Key takeaways included effective organizational management, the importance of advocacy for schools and students, and strategies for engaging with legislative staff.
“The event featured interactive sessions, strategic planning, and networking, leaving everyone inspired and motivated,” Bambie writes.
Bronwyn Garrison, president of WASFAA, shares that the association is wrapping up another successful WASFAA Fall Training series, with two remaining scheduled sessions for December. The FA Resources for Newbies training is on December 11, and the FA Resources for Directors training is on December 13.
Bronwyn also highlights the success of WASFAA’s regional FAAC® in-person workshops, which had over 40 participants.
Check back next month to see what your colleagues are doing across the country, and check out your colleagues’ updates from previous months!
Publication Date: 12/11/2024
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