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A Former Ed. Dept. Official Will Now Be Financial-Aid Officers’ Voice in D.C.
"Melanie Storey has left the U.S. Department of Education, but she will not be stepping away from the political fray in Washington," The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.
Storey, who served as director for policy implementation and oversight at the department’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office for the last five years, will become the next president and chief executive of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the organization announced on Tuesday. The former federal official will take the helm of the prominent association during a tumultuous time for the financial-aid profession, which is still reeling from the recent federal-aid crisis and bracing for further disruption amid President Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Education Department.
In her previous role, Storey helped lead prominent federal initiatives, including student-loan debt relief and implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act. Before that, she led various higher-education and financial-aid policy initiatives at the College Board. She also served as director of national initiatives at the American Council on Education.
A first-generation college student, Storey first came to Washington after graduating from college. She landed a job for a federal contractor that helped keep the Pell Grant program running. “My entire career has been focused on higher education, college access, and providing opportunity and success for students,” she says. “It’s what motivates me and what drives me.”
In an interview with The Chronicle last week, Storey discussed the recent upheaval in Washington, its potential impact on the federal-aid system, and what financial-aid officers need to thrive in their jobs.
Publication Date: 3/25/2025
