The NASFAA Regional Leadership Award is presented to individuals, who need not be financial aid administrators, who have made outstanding contributions to the financial aid profession at the regional and state levels over a sustained period of time, i.e., seven years or more. Leadership at the national level is not a criterion for this award, and the selection process will not be limited to current regional and state elected leaders. Current members of NASFAA's staff and NASFAA's Board of Directors, including non-voting members, are not eligible to receive this award.

The individuals selected for this award must:

• Exhibit high integrity and character;
• Have shown creative leadership;
• Have inspired and encouraged others to participate actively in professional development activities;
• Have continued active involvement in professional organizations after holding elected office; and
• Have supported the goals and objectives of NASFAA.

Nominations for this award are submitted by the regional associations. Regional associations may nominate individuals for this award online annually.

Recipients

• 2022 - EASFAA: Samantha Veeder; MASFAA: Michelle Trame; RMASFAA: Joseph Donlay; SASFAA: Runan Evans; SWASFAA: Mendy Schmerer; WASFAA: Sun Ow
• 2021 - EASFAA: Kristi Jovell; MASFAA: Kristin Bhaumik; RMASFAA: Ken Kocer; SASFAA: Zita Barree; SWASFAA: Lauren Jackson; WASFAA: Ashley Munro
• 2020 - EASFAA: Neville Brown, MASFAA: Aaron Steffens, RMASFAA: Vicki Kucera, SASFAA: Keith Reeves, SWASFAA: Shannon Crossland, WASFAA: Kim Wells
• 2019 - EASFAA: Wynette Zuppardi, MASFAA: Susan Swisher, RMASFAA: David Martin, SASFAA: Amy Berrier, SWASFAA: Denise Welch, WASFAA: Frank Green
• 2018 - EASFAA: Odette Franceskino, MASFAA: Val Meyers, RMASFAA: Art Young, SASFAA: Nathan Basford, SWASFAA: Janell Valdez, WASFAA: Kathleen Campbell
• 2017 - EASFAA: Brian Lemma; MASFAA: Paula Luff; RMASFAA: Carolyn Halgerson; SASFAA: Jeffrey Dennis; SWASFAA: Andrew Hammontree; WASFAA: Mindy Bergeron
• 2016 - EASFAA: Maribeth Quinn; MASFAA: Lori Vedder; RMASFAA: Darry Voight; SASFAA: Ron Day; SWASFAA: David Page; WASFAA: Wendy Olson
• 2015 - EASFAA: Larry Chambers; MASFAA: Richard Shipman; RMASFAA: Sharon Kienow; SASFAA: Brad Barnett; SWASFAA: Lisa Hopper; WASFAA: Sandra Guidry
• 2014 - EASFAA: Rich Heath; MASFAA: Diane Lambart-Fleming; RMASFAA: Brenda Hicks; SASFAA: Sandra Neel; SWASFAA: Lisa Blazer; WASFAA: Kay Soltis
• 2013 - EASFAA: Barbara Miller; MASFAA: Marvin Smith; RMASFAA: Terri Gruba; SASFAA: Heather Boutell; SWASFAA: Laura Coponiti; WASFAA: Patricia Hurley
• 2012 - EASFAA: Robert Shorb; MASFAA: JoAnn Ross; RMASFAA: Jeanne Mott; SASFAA: Lisanne Masterson; SWASFAA: Taina Savoit; WASFAA: Tami Sato
• 2011 - EASFAA: Mary Miller; MASFAA: Candi Frazier; RMASFAA: Mary Sommers; SASFAA: Dr. David Mohning; SWASFAA: Rick Renshaw; WASFAA: Jim White
• 2010 - EASFAA: Cathy Patella; MASFAA: Vickie Crupper; RMASFAA: Cristi Millard; SASFAA: Brent Tener; SWASFAA: Sherry Hudson; WASFAA: Marianna Deeken
• 2009 - EASFAA: Michael McGraw; MASFAA: John Parker; RMASFAA: Myron “Mick” Hanson; SASFAA: Janet Sain; SWASFAA: Linda Gonzalez-Hensgen; WASFAA: Steve Herndon
• 2008 - EASFAA: Susan Howard; MASFAA: Daniel R. Mann; RMASFAA: Janet Dodson; SASFAA: Betty Whalen; SWASFAA: Elaine Rivera; WASFAA: Doug Severs
• 2007 - EASFAA: David Sheridan; MASFAA: Howard Thomas; RMASFAA: Anthony Lyons; SASFAA: Robert Godfrey; SWASFAA: Cheryl Lyons; WASFAA: Kate Peterson
• 2006 - EASFAA: Suzy Allen; MASFAA: Zina Haywood; RMASFAA: Jim Swanson; SASFAA: David Cecil; SWASFAA: Karen Krause, WASFAA: Catherine King-Todd
• 2005 - EASFAA: Richard Woodland; MASFAA: Natala Hart; RMASFAA: Joan Zanders; SASFAA: Karen Koonce; SWASFAA: Earl Hudgins, WASFAA: Youlonda Copeland-Morgan
• 2004 - EASFAA: Yvonne Gittens; MASFAA: Orlo Austin; RMASFAA: Sandy Calhoun; SASFAA: David Gelinas; SWASFAA: Carlia Sproles; WASFAA: Sister Dale Brown
• 2003 - EASFAA: Michael Bennett; MASFAA: Pam Fowler; RMASFAA: Sue Weinreis; SASFAA: Carol Mowbray; SWASFAA: Mary Sue Rix; WASFAA: Addalou Davis
• 2002 - EASFAA: John Curtice; MASFAA: Laurie Wolf; RMASFAA: Robert Neas; SASFAA: Joel Harrell; SWASFAA: Michael Novak; WASFAA: Ted Malone
• 2001 - EASFAA: Christine Zuzack; MASFAA: Kenneth Fridsma; RMASFAA: Phil Van Horn; SASFAA: Susan Little; SWASFAA: Gracie Guillory; WASFAA: Dan Davenport
• 2000 - EASFAA: David Myette; MASFAA: Richard Battig; RMASFAA: Dean Obenauer; SASFAA: Curtis Whalen; SWASFAA: Henry Garcia; WASFAA: Jerry Sims.
• 1999 - EASFAA, Rachel Lohman; MASFAA, Marion Smithson; RMASFAA, Roger Koester; SASFAA, Karen Fooks; SWASFAA, Charles Bruce; WASFAA, Rick Weems.
• 1998 - EASFAA, William Irwin; MASFAA, Carolyn Sabatino; RMASFAA, Larry Moeder; SASFAA, William H. Wall; SWASFAA, Gerald Craig; WASFAA, Susan L. Murphy.
• 1997 - EASFAA, George Chin; MASFAA, Pamela A. Britton; RMASFAA, Donna Johnson;
  SASFAA, Helga Greenfield; SWASFAA, Judy Schneider; WASFAA, David Levy.
• 1996 - EASFAA, Richelle Emerick; MASFAA, Linda Lee Maxwell; RMASFAA, Robert Walker;
  SASFAA, Cruzita "Crusie" Lucero; SWASFAA, Greeley W. Myers; WASFAA, Michael Alexander.
• 1995 - EASFAA, Joe Paul Case; MASFAA, Paul G. Aasen; RMASFAA, Glenn "Skip" Sharp;
  SASFAA, Ray Tripp; SWASFAA, John Whiteside; WASFAA, Dan Messersmith.
• 1994 - EASFAA, John View; MASFAA, Judith Layer Florian; RMASFAA, John Gritts;
  SASFAA, Marvin G. Carmichael; SWASFAA, James Comeaux; WASFAA, Jeffrey Baker.
• 1993 - EASFAA, Joe Sciame; MASFAA, Dick Bellows; RMASFAA, Rita Bayless;
  SASFAA, Ron Gambill; SWASFAA, Sam Howell; WASFAA, Georgette DeVeres.
• 1992 - EASFAA, Maria I. DeJesus; MASFAA, Marc L. Brenner; RMASFAA, Don Siemson;
  SASFAA, Cheryl Wilkes O'Keeffe; SWASFAA, Claire ``Micki'' Roemer; WASFAA Paul Phillips.
• 1991 - EASFAA, Burt Batty; MASFAA, Kenneth Sears; RMASFAA, Richard Koontz;
  SASFAA, Vernetta Fairley; SWASFAA, Leo Hatten; WASFAA, Lola Finch.
• 1990 - EASFAA Marcia Pond Gardiner; MASFAA James W. White; RMASFAA Michael H. Johnson; SASFAA Marie A. Bennett; SWASFAA Leo W. Munson; WASFAA Robert P. Huff.
• 1989 - EASFAA, Renee Saleh; MASFAA, Wallace Douma; RMASFAA, Bruce Anderson; SASFAA, Herb Vescio; SWASFAA, Fred Chreist; WASFAA, Gene Miller.