Sessions & Speakers

Dave has been with the U.S. Department of Education for 16 years, first as a program reviewer with the Chicago/Denver School Participation Division and then as a Title IV subject matter expert with Federal Student Aid’s Policy Liaison and Implementation team. On that team, he later served as the director for the Experimental Sites Initiative and the Federal Student Aid Handbook, and then as the Deputy Director for the Policy Implementation and Oversight Directorate. Dave is currently the Acting Director for the Policy Development Group in the Office of Postsecondary Education. Prior to his federal service, Dave worked in corporate and school settings such as Career Education Corporation and Northwestern University’s undergraduate financial aid office.

Karen McCarthy serves as vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), where she leads the association’s federal advocacy strategy and public policy initiatives. As NASFAA’s chief lobbyist and primary liaison to Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, Karen plays a central role in shaping national financial aid policy and legislative efforts. Karen has held multiple leadership roles within NASFAA, where she has overseen public policy development, regulatory analysis, research initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. Her work has been instrumental in advancing federal student aid policy, simplifying the FAFSA process, and ensuring effective communication between policymakers and practitioners. Her background also includes direct institutional experience in financial aid administration at Boston University and Miami University of Ohio. With a strong foundation in student advising, regulatory compliance, and technical training, Karen brings a comprehensive understanding of both policy and practice to her work. A native of Massachusetts, she holds a master’s degree from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.