NASFAA Presentation Speakers
These are the speakers available for NASFAA speaking engagements. Learn more about their session offerings and request a speaker through this form. Read our Tips for Hosting a NASFAA Representative.
NASFAA Officers
Dr. Angela Johnson, National Chair
Dr. Angela Johnson is the vice president of enrollment management at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). She has more than 30 years of experience in financial aid and enrollment management. Her portfolio includes oversight of recruitment, admissions, retention, financial aid, scholarships, financial education, basic needs, registrar, and supporting first-generation college students. She previously worked at The Ohio State University and Bryant & Stratton College. She earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio State University, her master's degree in public communication from American University, and her doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Phoenix. She has served in several elected and volunteer positions at the state, regional and national levels, including past president for the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) and served on boards of directors for the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA), the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), College Board, the Higher Education Loan Coalition and the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. She has also participated in negotiated rulemaking with the U.S. Department of Education and served on The Higher Education Committee of 50 As a proud first-generation college graduate, Dr. Johnson is committed to developing integrated ecosystems to advance equitable access and financial aid systems that are bridges to student success.
Sessions: NASFAA Spotlight, Using NASFAA Tools, Aid at the SEM Table: Leadership, Data, and Impact, Beyond the Classroom: Holistic Support to Address Students' Basic Needs, Beyond the Office: Leading Forward in Enrollment and Financial Aid, Bloom Through Change: Building Resilience and Finding Support in Uncertain Times, Empowering Student Success Through Student-Centered Evaluative Processes, From Enrollment to Engagement: Scaling Retention and Belonging Across a Multi-Campus System, Leading Through Change: A Cross-College Approach to Student Success, Promoting Financial Wellness for First-Generation College Students, and Unlocking Access: Partnering with Financial Aid for FAFSA Success
Heidi Carl, Past National Chair
Heidi Carl is the assistant vice provost and executive director of the division of financial aid at Purdue University. She has 28 years of financial aid, admissions, and enrollment management experience and has previously worked at Wabash College and the University of Indianapolis. Heidi earned her bachelor's degree in communications and her master's degree in higher education administration from Western Michigan University. She has served in several elected and volunteer roles at the state, regional, and national levels and is a past president of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) and ISFAA (Indiana). She has served on NASFAA's Board of Directors as MASFAA regional representative and as chair of the Career Path Awareness for Financial Aid Administrators Thought Force. Heidi is committed to the people in our profession and helping to make critical changes to elevate the recognition and training for the unique skill set that is necessary for financial aid professionals of the future.
Sessions: NASFAA Spotlight, Using NASFAA Tools, Building your Skills as a Leader: Emotional Intelligence 101, Career Path Awareness for Financial Aid, Driving with Data, and The Light of a Leader
Dr. Sharon Oliver, FAAC®, National Chair-Elect
Sharon currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at North Carolina Central University and brings more than 30 years of experience in financial aid and higher education administration. She is a former president of both the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA) and the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA), and she has served as the Regional Representative on the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Board of Directors.
Most recently, Sharon has continued her commitment to professional service by serving as the diversity officer for NASFAA, the membership chair for SASFAA, and the budget chair for NCASFAA during the 2025-2026 year. Through these leadership roles, she has championed initiatives focused on fostering belonging, member engagement, fiscal stewardship, and the continued advancement of the financial aid profession.
Sessions: NASFAA Spotlight and Using NASFAA Tools
NASFAA Staff
Melanie Storey, President & CEO
Melanie Storey is the president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), beginning her tenure on May 1, 2025. With decades of experience in federal higher education policy, financial aid operations, and organizational leadership, Storey brings deep expertise and a steadfast commitment to advancing access and equity in higher education.
Storey most recently served as director of policy implementation and oversight at the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), where she led cross-functional teams in translating federal policy into practice. She played a central role in implementing the FAFSA Simplification Act and the FUTURE Act, and contributed to major initiatives like federal student loan debt relief. She frequently represented FSA before congressional staff, administration officials, and higher education leaders.
Before joining the Department, Storey led policy and strategy work at the College Board and served as director of national initiatives at the American Council on Education (ACE), where she supported national commissions, analyzed legislative proposals, and led public service campaigns. Earlier in her career, she was a policy analyst at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), conducting research and collaborating with government relations staff on federal policy proposals impacting private institutions.
A proud first-generation college graduate and financial aid recipient, Storey earned a master's degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas at Austin and holds bachelor's degrees in economics and public policy from Smith College.
Sessions: Ask Me (Almost) Anything: A Conversation with NASFAA's President & CEO, From Story to Strategy: Navigating the Policy Process Through Advocacy, Higher Education in the Public Eye: Historical Trends on the Role of U.S. Colleges and Universities, and Inside the Beltway Update
Karen McCarthy, Vice President of Public Policy and Federal Relations
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.
Sessions: Advocacy and You, "I'm Just a Bill, and I'm Sitting Here on Capitol Hill": How a Bill Really Becomes a Law, Inside the Beltway Update, One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates, and The Federal Budget and Student Aid
Dana Kelly, Vice President of Professional Development and Institutional Compliance
Dana currently serves as the vice president of professional development and institutional compliance for NASFAA. In this role, she oversees all products and services assigned to the training and regulatory assistance and certification and credentialing departments, supervises DC-based and remote training staff, manages the annual Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, and develops session content for NASFAA's national conference. As a member of NASFAA's executive team, she is instrumental in ensuring NASFAA is working toward the vision, mission, and goals established by NASFAA's Board of Directors. Prior to working at NASFAA, she held positions at Nelnet Diversified Solutions as a national trainer, at Nelnet as a regional director, and at High Point University as the director of student financial planning. She holds a bachelor's degree in justice and policy studies from Guilford College, a master's degree from the University of Phoenix in organizational management, and a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Sessions: One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates, Professional Judgment Best Practices, Top AskRegs Questions, Using NASFAA Tools, and What's New in Administrative Capability
Jill Desjean, Director of Policy Analysis
Jill Desjean is the director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). In her role, Jill manages the policy analysis team, interprets federal student aid legislation and regulations for NASFAA's members, works with NASFAA's members to develop policy recommendations, and provides feedback to policymakers on legislative and regulatory proposals. Prior to joining NASFAA in 2016, Jill enjoyed a 20-year career in financial aid administration, having held roles in the financial aid offices at Tufts University School of Medicine, MIT, Brandeis University, and the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, as well as The New School in New York City. She earned her bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross. Jill joined NASFAA in 2016 and is based in the Washington, D.C. area.
Sessions: Advocacy and You, Inside the Beltway Update, and One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates
Rachel Rotunda, Director of Strategic Outreach and Partnerships
Rachel contributes to NASFAA's policy and advocacy efforts, representing the association before congressional members and staff and working to enhance the advocacy capacity of its members. Prior to joining NASFAA, Rachel worked in higher education policy analysis and research in Washington, D.C., and began her career in higher education as a high school college advisor assisting low-income and first-generation students through the college application and financial aid process.
Sessions: Advocacy and You, "I'm Just a Bill, and I'm Sitting Here on Capitol Hill": How a Bill Really Becomes a Law, Inside the Beltway Update, and The Federal Budget and Student Aid
Nalia Medina, Assistant Director of Government Relations
Nalia Medina is the assistant director of government relations on NASFAA's policy team. She assists with analysis of timely higher education legislation, contributes to NASFAA's government relations and advocacy efforts at both the federal and state levels, and helps enhance the advocacy capacity of NASFAA members. She brings experience in policy and advocacy through her previous role as an intern on Capitol Hill. She is a first-generation graduate from The George Washington University with a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration.
Sessions: Advocacy and You, "I'm Just a Bill, and I'm Sitting Here on Capitol Hill": How a Bill Really Becomes a Law, Inside the Beltway Update, and The Federal Budget and Student Aid
Sarah Austin, Policy Analyst
Sarah Austin is a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). She began her financial aid career as a student assistant in the financial aid office at Whitworth University while completing her bachelor's degree in mathematics. After graduation, she worked at Gonzaga University and then returned to Whitworth as the assistant director of financial aid. She also served in various volunteer roles, including conference chair, with the Washington Financial Aid Association (WFAA). Sarah started at NASFAA in 2018 as the Standards of Excellence (SOE) program manager and joined the Training and Regulatory Assistance team in 2023. In 2024, Sarah transitioned to the NASFAA Policy Team. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, daughter, and two goldendoodles.
Sessions: Advocacy and You, Inside the Beltway Update, and One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates
