Sessions & Speakers

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.

Clare McCann serves as Managing Director of Policy and Operations for the Postsecondary Education & Economics Research (PEER) Center, a higher education research center that generates actionable research to drive policy improvements in postsecondary access, affordability, experience, and outcomes. She previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of Education in two administrations, where she worked on higher education regulations and helped launch the College Scorecard. She was also previously the Director of Higher Education at Arnold Ventures, and worked in numerous roles with New America's Higher Education Program.

Megan Walter is a senior policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), where she also serves as the program director for the College Cost Transparency Initiative (CCT). She began her career in financial aid as a financial aid counselor at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. After her time at Alvernia, she worked as the financial aid program manager for grants and reconciliation at the University of Cincinnati. Megan joined the NASFAA Policy Team in 2017. She earned her master's degree in higher education from Colorado State University and holds bachelor’s degrees in French and Russian. Originally from the Philadelphia area, she currently lives in Washington, D.C.

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.