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Tuesday, February 18
 

7:30am EST

Continental Breakfast & Coffee Stations
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 8:45am EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 8:45am EST
Regency Ballroom A-H

7:30am EST

Business Partner & Charity Open
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EST
Pre-Function

7:30am EST

Conference Registration Open
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 9:00am EST
Registration

7:30am EST

Headquarters Open
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 3:00pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:30am - 3:00pm EST
Registration

9:00am EST

General Session: FAFSA Debrief
Tuesday February 18, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Coming Soon!
Speakers
avatar for Jeremy Singer

Jeremy Singer

President, College Board
As president, Jeremy leads College Board in delivering its mission and serving its members in a financially sustainable way. Jeremy oversees Advanced Placement, SAT, all related instructional and assessment programs, BigFuture, Finance, Technology, Operations, International, Risk... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Regency Ballroom A-H

10:00am EST

Ask-A-FED
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EST
A U.S. Department of Education representative will be available to help address individual school Title IV questions and concerns. If you have always wanted to talk with a FED, now is your chance to build a lasting relationship with the federal government.
Speakers
avatar for David Bartnicki

David Bartnicki

Senior Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
David has worked for the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Office for over 30 years.  He has served as an Institutional Review Specialist, Institutional Improvement Specialist (IIS), Branch Chief for Contract Compliance, Federal Training Officer and is currently... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Gardenia

10:00am EST

Business Partner & Charity Open
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Pre-Function

10:00am EST

Conference Registration Open
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Registration

10:15am EST

25-26 Verification
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
This webinar will review the 2025-26 verification data element and documentation requirements. It will also focus on some of the more complicated verification-related issues that come up year after year. Join Dana Kelly, NASFAA Vice President of institutional compliance, as she leads you through the latest verification requirements and challenging issues.
Speakers
avatar for Dana Kelly

Dana Kelly

Vice President of Professional Development and Institutional Compliance, NASFAA
Dana Kelly is NASFAA’s very own Fearless leader in professional development and institutional compliance. As Vice President, she masterminds teams dedicated to training, regulatory assistance, certification, and corporate partnerships, ensuring the financial aid world runs smoother... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Crepe Myrtle

10:15am EST

AI’s Role in Financial Aid Succession Planning: Unlocking Leadership Potential
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Given the well-documented staffing challenges in student financial aid, the need for effective and efficient succession planning has never been more critical. Prudent use of innovation through AI can help ensure organizational stability and continuity by identifying, developing, and preparing employees to fill essential leadership and other crucial staff roles.

This session will cover how AI can significantly improve succession planning by offering data-driven insights, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making to ensure the right people are prepared for key roles. Our panel will compare and contrast the traditional framework of staff management to available AI tools that have the potential to make success planning more proactive, data-driven, and equitable.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Armstrong

Beth Armstrong

Associate Vice Provost and Director, University Scholarships and Financial Aid, Virginia Tech
Beth Armstrong serves as the Associate Vice Provost of Enrollment Management & Director of University Scholarships and Financial Aid at Virginia Tech, a position she has held since September 2013. She has worked in financial aid for over 25 years and has worked for four-year public... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Samantha Hicks, FAAC®

Dr. Samantha Hicks, FAAC®

Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Coastal Carolina University
Dr. Samantha Hicks is currently serving as the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships at Coastal Carolina University.  She is in her fifteenth year working in Financial Aid full-time at CCU.  Her own personal experience as a low-income student and a work-study... Read More →
avatar for Bill Ayers

Bill Ayers

Head Of Campus Development, College Ave Student Loans
Bill is currently the Head of Campus Development at College Ave Student Loans. His higher education finance experience includes management positions at Sallie Mae and JP Morgan Chase. With College Ave, he manages relationships with higher education institutions and financial affinity... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Studio 220 B-C

10:15am EST

Enrollment Management and the role of FA
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Enrollment Management is important on every campus.  This session will cover conversations financial aid administrators need to be involved in and ways aid impacts EM.  There will be take away strategies you can use on your campus.
Speakers
avatar for Betsy Johnson

Betsy Johnson

Director Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, Bowling Green State University
Betsy Johnson has been the Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at Bowling Green State University in Ohio almost 9 years.  Prior to that Betsy was at Owens Community College in Toledo for over 15 years serving as Director of Financial Aid for several years before becoming... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Teal Ballroom

10:15am EST

Getting a Seat at a Bigger Table
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
More and more financial aid professionals are moving into senior leadership roles at colleges and universities, and many are becoming chief enrollment officers. While most chief enrollment officers progress through admissions offices, higher education institutions need the unique qualities that financial aid professionals to senior leadership positions. Participants will hear of one career trajectory into a vice president for enrollment management position and will receive advice/answer questions about the ins-and-outs one needs to know if a chief enrollment officer position is attractive. 
Speakers
avatar for Forrest M. Stuart, PhD

Forrest M. Stuart, PhD

Vice President for Enrollment Management, Lafayette College
Dr. Forrest Stuart is the vice president for enrollment management at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Prior to assuming this role at Lafayette, Dr. Stuart served as Lafayette’s assistant vice president for financial aid. Prior to joining Lafayette in January 2019, Dr... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Redbud

10:15am EST

SAP and Retention Programs, get to know them All Too Well, 45 min version
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
We know satisfactory academic progress and retention all too well becomes a hot topic of conversation for student success. This session we will toss you the car keys in data driven analysis of SAP student retention and how you can provide instutitional support to this subset of students. Maybe SAP gets lost in translation with the students, but in this deep dive session you will come away with a path to extract data and brainstorm retention programs with your peers.
Speakers
avatar for Lee Bray

Lee Bray

Director of Financial Aid, Pitt Community College
Lee Bray currently serves as the Director of Financial Aid at Pitt CC. Lee completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Millersville University in Business Management where she started her financial aid career as a Federal Work Study student. She has since worked in the capacity of financial... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Dogwood

10:15am EST

When Disaster Strikes: What we wish we'd known
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Navigating financial aid challenges in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Hurricane Helene disrupted the lives of countless students and staff, but it also showcased the resilience and adaptability of financial aid offices in the face of adversity. This session will share key lessons learned during and after the hurricane, focusing on how financial aid offices can thrive and effectively support their campuses and student populations during disaster declarations. Topics will include emergency funding strategies, student support initiatives, assessing staff needs, effective communication methods under challenging conditions, and what to expect both short and long-term as the campus returns to normal.
Tuesday February 18, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EST
Think Tank

11:30am EST

Lunch on your own
Tuesday February 18, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
Enjoy Greenville

1:15pm EST

General Session: Federal Update
Tuesday February 18, 2025 1:15pm - 2:45pm EST
This session will discuss current and upcoming federal regulations, dear colleague letters, electronic announcements and policy decisions. If you want the latest and greatest information about administering the Title IV programs, then this session is for you!
Speakers
avatar for David Bartnicki

David Bartnicki

Senior Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
David has worked for the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Office for over 30 years.  He has served as an Institutional Review Specialist, Institutional Improvement Specialist (IIS), Branch Chief for Contract Compliance, Federal Training Officer and is currently... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 1:15pm - 2:45pm EST
Regency Ballroom A-H

2:45pm EST

Business Partner & Charity Open | Breakdown at 4PM
Tuesday February 18, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm EST
Pre-Function

2:45pm EST

Conference Registration Open
Tuesday February 18, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm EST
Registration

3:00pm EST

Compliance Adventure: Navigating Consumer Information and Institutional Eligibility
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
This session will explore two critical pillars of Title IV compliance: Consumer Information and Administrative Capability. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of institutional responsibilities related to Title IV eligibility and effective strategies for implementing compliance measures. The session will emphasize the importance of transparent consumer information disclosures, ensuring administrative capability, and fostering interoffice collaboration to meet federal requirements. Through this interactive session, attendees will acquire actionable insights and tools to strengthen their compliance programs.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Maria Hammett

Dr. Maria Hammett

Associate Vice President of Student Financial Planning, Mercer University
Maria has been at Mercer University since 2000. She currently serves as the  Associate Vice-President of Student Financial Planning. She has served GASFAA in many capacities including being 2017-2018 Secretary, 2020-2021 President and is currently the Virtual Training Chair on the... Read More →
avatar for Emmilee Mitchell

Emmilee Mitchell

Director of Financial Planning Operations, Mercer University
Emmilee Mitchell is the Director of Financial Aid Operations and Compliance at Mercer University with 12 years of financial aid experience. Emmilee has been involved with GASFAA serving in various positions on the board and volunteering for multiple committees. She is currently serving... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Redbud

3:00pm EST

Fraud issues in FA
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General (ED OIG) will provide a fraud awareness presentation that gives an overview of ED OIG, discusses fraud risk indicators, how to identify fraud during the financial aid application process, tips for how schools can mitigate their risk for fraud, provide real case examples, and how to report fraud.
Speakers
avatar for Isabel Douroupis

Isabel Douroupis

Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC), Office of Inspector General
Isabel Douroupis is an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General (ED OIG), Washington DC Field office and Atlanta office. ASAC Douroupis supervises investigations involving allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse of ED... Read More →
avatar for Lawrence Genous

Lawrence Genous

Special Agent, Office of Inspector General
Lawrence Genous is a Special Agent for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General (ED OIG), within the Atlanta, GA Field office. SA Genous conducts investigations involving allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse of ED funding mostly in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Teal Ballroom

3:00pm EST

Managing Up: 10 Tips for Earning Your Seat at the Leadership Table
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Do you desire to be heard but haven’t developed your strategy for what to do when they’re listening? Learn what senior leaders and college presidents have shared about their expectations and communication preferences.  You often have few opportunities and limited time to get your message delivered and make your point effectively.  Follow their advice to advance your agenda and career.



Speakers
avatar for Kristi Jovell

Kristi Jovell

NASFAA National Chair, Johns Hopkins University
Kristi Jovell, FAAC®, is director of strategic financial aid initiatives at Johns Hopkins University. She has over two decades of experience in financial aid and enrollment management, with a proven track record of innovation, leadership, and strategic vision. Throughout her career... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Studio 220 B-C

3:00pm EST

Return to Repayment Update
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
With the return to repayment that started in October 2023, over 30 million Americans have been impacted in a variety of ways as they find their loans are no longer in the COVID-Forbearance status and most borrowers were not engaged for the past 42 months. Add to this the extension of IDR income certifications and impact of legal actions that have suspended certain repayment plans where millions of borrowers have yet to make payments.

Borrowers reentering repayment again or those who recently graduated and are entering repayment for the first time, find themselves surrounded with new terms and conditions, confusing processes, constantly changing rules and difficulty in accessing support services. In addition to the current direct loan program, many borrowers are still paying on the older Federal Family Education Loan Program loans and Private loans.

This session will give participants the opportunity to hear how things are progressing and to share with each other ideas and best practices that will help us all in moving forward in this new post-pandemic era. We will also learn why schools need to start now to talk more about loans with students and borrowers and other offices on campus.
Speakers
WS

William Shaffner

Director, Business Development & Government Relations, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA)
Will Shaffner has over 42 years of experience in the student loan and higher education finance arena and currently is the Director of Business Development & Government Relations at the Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA), serving in this capacity since... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Crepe Myrtle

3:00pm EST

Searching for Quality Live Data: SQL Tips & Tricks
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Whether you're new to SQL and want some great resources to build your knowledge, or you're a seasoned query writer and want to see some nifty tricks others are doing, join us as we cover some SQL Tips & Tricks!
Speakers
avatar for Zachary Christian

Zachary Christian

Deputy Director, SC Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission
Zachary Christian, FAAC(R) is the immediate past-president of the South Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SCASFAA) and Deputy Director of the SC Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission.  Zachary has worked in student financial aid since 2014, previously... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Dogwood

3:00pm EST

Staffing & Succession: Doing More With Less
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, a mass exodus of financial aid professionals left colleges facing unprecedented staff shortages. A 2022 NASFAA survey found that 80 percent of institutions' financial aid offices were concerned about their ability to remain “administratively capable” due to staffing issues.” – Inside Higher Ed, 5/31/24

Leaning on experiences and examples from a few of your esteemed colleagues, this will be a moderated town-hall aimed at exploring not just the problem, but the solutions and adjustments necessary to move forward. How can we best operate during a staffing shortage without severely decreased morale among the employees still present? How do we combat the potential for extended shortages? How will we better position our office to weather future iterations of this same challenge?
Crises often illicit a fight or flight response. Venting may be cathartic and even necessary when faced with these challenges, but it is a form of flight. Join your colleagues for this session if you are ready to fight through the challenge and emerge stronger on the other side.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. James W. Kellam

Dr. James W. Kellam

Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services, Converse University
I am the Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services at Converse University. I have worked in higher education since 1994 in student financial aid.
avatar for Dr. Samantha Hicks, FAAC®

Dr. Samantha Hicks, FAAC®

Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Coastal Carolina University
Dr. Samantha Hicks is currently serving as the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships at Coastal Carolina University.  She is in her fifteenth year working in Financial Aid full-time at CCU.  Her own personal experience as a low-income student and a work-study... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Think Tank

4:15pm EST

Course Program of Study
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
TBD
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Baumhoff

Sarah Baumhoff

Director of Student Support, Kennesaw State University
Sarah Baumhoff, FAAC® is the Director of Student Support, Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Kennesaw State University. Sarah has served in a variety of roles in both public and private institutions for the last 27 years in financial aid since her time as a work-study student... Read More →
avatar for Heather Shelly

Heather Shelly

Director of Compliance - Financial Aid, Georgia Southern University
Heather started her career in financial aid in 2002 as a counselor at a small college in northern WI.  During the 14 years there she served in every role within the office making her way to director level in 2010.  In 2016 she moved to Georgia Southern Univeristy to serve as their... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Redbud

4:15pm EST

From Concept to Impact: Implementing Financial Wellness Programs on Campus
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Discover how to create financial wellness programs at your institution. This session will provide actionable strategies for gaining institutional support and securing donor funding. Learn from firsthand experiences to develop a program that enhances student financial health and well-being.
Speakers
avatar for Charlotte Cole

Charlotte Cole

Director of Financial Aid, Jacksonville State University
Charlotte Cole is currently the Director of Financial Aid at Jacksonville State. Prior to her role at JSU, she began her career in financial aid at the University of West Georgia. She is an active member of AASFAA and SASFAA, presenting frequently on student-focused compliance initiatives... Read More →
avatar for Auburn Taylor

Auburn Taylor

Assistant Director of Financial Wellness & Default Management, Jacksonville State University
Auburn Taylor is the Assistant Director of Default Management & Financial Wellness at Jacksonville State University. Since assuming her role in January 2023, Auburn has spearheaded the development of the Family Savings Financial Wellness program. Auburn holds a bachelor's degree in... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Think Tank

4:15pm EST

Is Slate a part of your Wildest Dreams?
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
A panel discussion exploring the benefits and efficiencies that Slate offers for enhancing financial aid communication and streamlining processes.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Maria Hammett

Dr. Maria Hammett

Associate Vice President of Student Financial Planning, Mercer University
Maria has been at Mercer University since 2000. She currently serves as the  Associate Vice-President of Student Financial Planning. She has served GASFAA in many capacities including being 2017-2018 Secretary, 2020-2021 President and is currently the Virtual Training Chair on the... Read More →
avatar for Jacquelyn Copeland

Jacquelyn Copeland

Associate Provost & Director, UNC Chapel Hill
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Copeland is the Associate Provost and Director of Scholarships and Student Aid at her alma mater, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from Carolina and a Master of... Read More →
avatar for Celena Tulloss

Celena Tulloss

Celena Tulloss, FAAC, serves as the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Auburn University, in Auburn, Alabama. Celena has spent over 20 years in the financial aid field, from leading a small private institution... Read More →
avatar for Kyle Wade

Kyle Wade

Director of Financial Aid & Enrollment Services, Spartanburg Methodist College
Kyle began his Financial Aid career at University of North Georgia as a Federal Work Study student worker. After graduation, he stayed at UNG and worked as a Financial Aid Counselor, Admissions Coordinator, and Assistant Director of Enrollment Management. In 2019, he began his current... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Crepe Myrtle

4:15pm EST

Living in harmony – balancing complex compliance requirements, staff experience and service to students
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
This session will provide options and best practices on setting your office up for compliance success while trying to also create a strong staff experience while best serving your students.  Discussion will occur regarding the timing of updating policies, training manuals, cross-training ideas, etc.
Speakers
avatar for Betsy Johnson

Betsy Johnson

Director Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, Bowling Green State University
Betsy Johnson has been the Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at Bowling Green State University in Ohio almost 9 years.  Prior to that Betsy was at Owens Community College in Toledo for over 15 years serving as Director of Financial Aid for several years before becoming... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Studio 220 B-C

4:15pm EST

Professional Development FA Training for staff in other departments
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Teal Ballroom

4:15pm EST

“Mission: Possible - Mastering Title IV Returns”
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Handling Return of Title IV (R2T4) Funds can feel like you're caught in a complex puzzle, where one wrong move can trigger a series of costly errors. But what if you had a roadmap to navigate this financial aid maze, equipped with strategies to overcome the top challenges?  In this session, we’ll dive deep into the Top 10 Challenges of R2T4 and provide clear, practical solutions to each. We’ll frame these hurdles in a way that’s both engaging and easy to relate to. Through case studies, real-world examples, and a focus on compliance, this session will prepare you to confidently manage the most difficult aspects of R2T4 processing, helping you avoid penalties and ensure your institution stays on the right track.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Samantha Hicks, FAAC®

Dr. Samantha Hicks, FAAC®

Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Coastal Carolina University
Dr. Samantha Hicks is currently serving as the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid & Scholarships at Coastal Carolina University.  She is in her fifteenth year working in Financial Aid full-time at CCU.  Her own personal experience as a low-income student and a work-study... Read More →
Tuesday February 18, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EST
Dogwood

5:15pm EST

Dinner On Your Own | State Dinners
Tuesday February 18, 2025 5:15pm - 8:30pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 5:15pm - 8:30pm EST
Enjoy Greenville

8:30pm EST

Dueling Pianos
Tuesday February 18, 2025 8:30pm - 10:30pm EST
Coming Soon!
Tuesday February 18, 2025 8:30pm - 10:30pm EST
Studio 220 A, B or C
 
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