June State & Regional Association Updates
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues about the recent conferences held by TASFAA (Tennessee) and WASFAA (the Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), along with upcoming conferences in PASFAA (Pennsylvania), AASFAA (Arkansas), and NAFAA (Nevada).
Additionally, PASFAA and AASFAA share details about recent association trainings. Lastly, NAFAA and the D.C. Chapter of Tri-State (DE-DC-MD ASFAA) share other updates within their association.
Recent Conferences
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| Tennessee (TASFAA) 2026 Conference | |
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Elizabeth Crye, social media chair of TASFAA (Tennessee), shares that the association held its spring Board meeting and hosted its annual conference in Franklin, Tennessee, in April. Throughout the conference, Ron Gambill was honored for his service to the organization, as he is retiring later this year.
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Shellee Kilbride, president-elect of WASFAA, shares that the association just held its annual conference in May, which was a fabulous experience. The association thanks conference chairs Dewayne Barnes and Jessica Ayers, the conference committee, and all who made WASFAA 2026 a success.
“Although the conference has wrapped, we remain deeply inspired by the impactful presentations and meaningful cultural moments that made this year’s event so unique,” Shellee writes. The association was especially honored to host two distinguished leaders from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians who brought both powerful advocacy and rich heritage to the community.
Shellee notes that Kate Anderson, director of public relations for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, delivered a keynote in history, community advocacy, and regional collaboration. WASFAA attendees walked away with invaluable insights on how to build meaningful partnerships that empower students. The association also celebrated her transformative work, including coordinating the Harvard University Honoring Nations award-winning Agua Caliente school curriculum and building pathways through the Regional College Fair to connect local students with higher education.
Shellee adds that during the conference, attendees were deeply privileged to experience a powerful performance by John R. Preckwinkle III, a Kawiya Bird Singer. John shared the beautiful tradition of the bird songs, which are sung in the Cahuilla language and share the story of the Cahuilla (Kaa-We-Uh) Migration from long ago.
"Both Kate and John perfectly captured the spirit of WASFAA this year, bridging the gap between heritage, community, and education,” the WASFAA Conference Committee shares. “We are profoundly grateful to them and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for sharing their knowledge, vision, and culture with our financial aid professionals."
The association also thanked NASFAA President and CEO Melanie Storey and NASFAA National Chair Heidi Carl for their engaging sessions, along with Federal Student Aid (FSA) for joining virtually with a presentation and Q&A Session.
“Finally, thank you to our incredible presenters, vendors and attendees for making WASFAA 2026 a fabulous event!” Shellee writes.
Upcoming Conferences
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Robin Walker, president of PASFAA (Pennsylvania), shares that the association’s annual conference is scheduled for October 26-28 at the Penn Stater, in State College, Pennsylvania. The annual conference will feature sessions on financial aid policy, leadership development, state updates, and networking opportunities.
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Heather Ledbetter, president-elect of AASFAA (Arkansas), shares that the association is gearing up for its fall conference, the Arkansas Financial Aid Expedition, which will take place October 29–30 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Heather notes the conference will have a robust training agenda, networking opportunities, and a lot of fun!
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Ambra Reed, president of NAFAA (Nevada), shares that the association’s annual conference will be held in November in Las Vegas, and NAFAA is excited to partner with IASFAA (Idaho) for this collaborative event. Planning for the conference is currently underway, and both associations are looking forward to bringing members together for an impactful and engaging experience, Ambra writes.
Trainings
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Robin Walker, president of PASFAA (Pennsylvania), shares that the association held its 2026 Don Raley Institute, an in-person professional development event tailored for financial aid professionals, on June 2-4 at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
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| Arkansas (AASFAA) Spring Training | |
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Heather Ledbetter, president-elect of AASFAA (Arkansas), shares that on April 30, the association held its annual one-day spring training event, welcoming 150 members under the theme, "AASFAA in Wonderland."
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Philo Brasher Emerging Leadership Award to Cristina Castorena, assistant director of financial aid client services at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Heather writes. Attendees participated in a variety of dynamic breakout sessions, including relevant topics such as Birds of a Feather, State Aid Updates, Pell for Workforce Programs, Managing from the Middle, Transforming Customer Interactions, and New Aid Officer Tools.
The event concluded with a general session focused on the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), led by AASFAA Past-President Kimberly Stubbs. AASFAA was also honored to host special guests Brad Meyers (SWASFAA president and associate director of operations and compliance at Southeastern Louisiana University) and Audra Main (director of financial aid at Moore Norman Technology Center).
Additional Updates
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Ambra Reed, president of NAFAA (Nevada), shares that the association recently held a successful election for the 2026-2027 Executive Council, with the incoming leadership officially assuming their roles on May 1. Ambra officially assumed the role of president on May 1, writing that she is honored to serve alongside the new Executive Council, which includes President-Elect Geoffrey Green from the University of Nevada, Treasurer Jennifer Nelson-Criss from Nevada State University, and Secretary Jacky Palacios, also from Nevada State University. NAFAA also extends sincere appreciation to David George for his dedicated service and leadership as president during the previous term, as well as the outgoing Executive Council. -
Emma Torres, of the D.C. Chapter of Tri-State (DE-DC-MD ASFAA), shares that the D.C. Chapter facilitated another successful community service project of volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. Volunteers enjoyed sorting, packing, and distributing food to families in need within the local area.
Publication Date: 6/23/2026
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