Sessions & Speakers

David Downing joined NASFAA’s Training and Regulatory Assistance team in 2019. Prior to joining NASFAA, he was the associate director of financial aid operations at Arizona State University, responsible for the oversight of verification processing and the Federal Pell Grant Program. He has worked professionally in financial aid since 2004, also working at Washington State University as the assistant director of communications and at the University of Phoenix in training and content development, as well as several other roles. He received his bachelor's degree in business with a minor in human resource management from Western International University and his master's degree in education/adult education and training from the University of Phoenix. He has also served as the communications chair, secretary, and volunteered on various committees with the Western Association of Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA). He lives in Columbia, MD, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Charity, and their two boys.

Michelle Thompson is a regulatory specialist with NASFAA, where she updates NASFAA publications and responds to questions regarding regulatory issues through NASFAA's AskRegs service. Michelle started her career in financial aid as a part-time loan specialist with Queens University of Charlotte. She has been a practicing financial aid administrator for over 22 years, working for both public and private universities. Michelle has a master’s degree in higher education from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Connecticut State University. Michelle joined NASFAA’s Training and Regulatory Assistance Team in 2024. She teleworks from her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, and enjoys fostering dogs from a local shelter, spending time with family and friends, and learning to play golf.