MASFAA Election Results!

(by Sara Beth Holman, MASFAA Nominations & Elections Chair)

It is with great pleasure that I announce to you the newly elected 2015-2016 MASFAA Board Members.

President-Elect: Thomas Ratliff, Indiana Wesleyan University

Vice-President: Justin Chase Brown, University of Missouri

Treasurer-Elect: Debbie Schumm, University of St. Francis 

Delegate-at-Large: Heidi Carl, Wabash College

Delegate-at-Large: Steven Foster, University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Please join me in congratulating each of these individuals for volunteering to serve you, the MASFAA Membership, as elected officers on the 2015-2016 MASFAA Board.

On behalf of the Nominations and Elections Committee, I would like to thank all members who agreed to run on this year’s MASFAA ballot. We received comments from a number of members sharing they were impressed with the ballot and some even commented that they had a hard time voting because the ballot was so good. That speaks very highly of the talent and dedication within our membership!!!

I’d also like to give a huge shout out to the Nominations and Elections Committee for their hard work!

Visiting Iowa

(by Val Meyers, Michigan Representative)

What a great welcome I had to the IASFAA Conference in central Iowa on April 16-17, 2015. Held at the Stoney Creek Inn in a suburb of Des Moines, I was greeted at the door by a wooden bear holding a WELCOME sign, and it definitely was a good omen of things to come, as I was treated to wonderful Iowa hospitality on my visit there, representing Michigan.

The theme of the Iowa conference was “Planting Seeds for Success” – a clever precursor to the theme of the MASFAA Conference to be held in Iowa later in the year (“Growing Connections for Success”). The conference committee chairs were helpful and welcoming, and the session they asked me to present fit in well with the overall emphasis of the conference.

I was able to teach as well as learn, showing the people I spoke with how Michiganders carry their home state maps with them everywhere they go. If you have never lived in Michigan, or known someone from the state, this will be your introduction to the concept of the Michigan Hand Map.

There are several goals inherent in the MASFAA President’s Exchange program, from meeting and networking with new people within the MASFAA region, to sharing ideas by attending and presenting interest sessions, to experiencing how the program and site committees organize their conference. I posted to the MSFAA Facebook page the IASFAA twist on the charity silent auction – the mystery gift! Bidders know only the donor and the minimum bid, so whatever they win will be a surprise. 

 
I also enjoyed the “speed dating” Town Hall – a number of hot topics are announced before the conference, and attendees are asked to bring their questions and best practices. The sessions are moderated but move quickly while giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas. I will definitely ask my conference committee to consider adopting this as a session at future conferences in Michigan.

I need to thank the Presidents (Julie Haack, outgoing president, and Kristi Fuller, incoming president) and past-president Jen Sassman, for their help and support. Julie Dunn and Gary Adams from Program and Site were also gracious and helpful as I prepared my presentation. I am looking forward to returning to Iowa in October for the MASFAA conference and hoping to see some of these wonderful people yet again. Thank you Iowa for your warm welcome!

Val Meyers
Michigan State University
MSFAA (Michigan) President

Summer Institute - Meet Our Faculty!

Have you registered for Summer Institute yet? Or actively encouraged your staff to do so? Registration is still open through May 1st! Check out our blog post from a few weeks ago that includes highlights and the agenda. Today, we're highlighting the faculty and frequently asked questions.

Team BASIC
Ryan Gebler, Associate Director of Financial Aid at Lawrence University. He’s responsible for packaging, verification, professional judgment, private and federal loans, state grant programs, and good old fashioned financial aid counseling. It’s a small office, so he gets the opportunity to do a variety of things. He’s also currently the treasurer for the Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA).

“I’m a math teacher trapped in a financial aid administrator’s body. Sort of… My mom was a teacher for over 30 years, and my 18-year-old self decided to rebel from the profession that was (probably) my real calling: teaching. I’m excited for the opportunity to be in the 'classroom' and teach. Plus, I’ve got some great jokes I want to try out during the sessions.”
Emily Janero, Assistant Director for Compliance in the Office of Financial Aid at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). Prior to starting at IPFW, Emily spent eight years working on the NCAA Division I compliance side of higher education as an Assistant Director of Athletics for Youngstown State University and Saint Peters’ University. Emily holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism from The Ohio State University and a Master’s of Business Administration from Saint Peter’s University.

“I’m very excited to serve as SI faculty so I can give back to my profession and hopefully inspire other new professionals to get more involved like I was inspired last year when I was a SI attendee.”
Brandon Huiner, Senior Assistant Director at the University of Chicago. A Packers and Brewers fanatic, Brandon has been working in financial aid since shortly after birth – a true child prodigy. This has allowed him to build up an incredible tolerance to ever-changing regulations, every type of parent, and Return to Title IV Funds calculations. Outside of financial aid, his hobbies include collecting peach pits, gum found under tables, and other useless trinkets.

“Financial aid has encompassed my entire life…literally – so who better than to teach others?”

Team ADVANCED
Angela Johnson, Executive Director of Enrollment Operations & Financial Aid at Cuyahoga Community College. Although Angela’s been at Cuyahoga for the last 15 years, she started in financial aid 25 years ago as a work-study student at The Ohio State University. As a long-time financial aid professional, she is eager to work with financial aid professionals.

“As a faculty member for Summer Institute, I appreciate sharing my early experiences as an FAA and hopefully encourage new professionals to learn and grow as a financial aid expert. The new advanced track this year is sure to be a great addition and conversation starter about best practices in financial aid.”
Chad Olsen, Assistant Director in the Office of Student Financial Aid at Iowa State University. Chad supervises the Loan and Client Services units and has worked in the financial aid profession for 15 years.

“I’m excited to serve on the faculty for SI so I can help facilitate discussions on various financial aid topics and best practices. I look forward to learning from the participants!”
Christine Passer, Director of Financial Aid at Southwestern Michigan College. A native of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Yooper), Chris is currently working toward a doctorate in Community College Leadership at Ferris State University.

“It is my lifelong love of learning and teaching that fuels my excitement for being faculty for the MASFAA Summer Institute.”

Summer Institute - FAQ:
What does it mean to earn a NASFAA Credential?
Using the NASFAA CORE, a fundamentals curriculum for financial aid professionals, our faculty members will teach and discuss each of eleven subject modules ranging in topics from Student Eligibility to Return to Title IV Funds. Each subject module corresponds to a subject credential test and participants of the Summer Institute will have the cost of these tests included in our program fee. For every test passed – participants will be listed on NASFAA’s Credential Honor Roll and will improve professional resumes.

Why are you offering two tracks?
Summer Institute is no longer a “Newbies Only” program. Learning from a nationally-recognized program to solidify your professional knowledge is good for all financial aid administrators, but we still acknowledge that the learning needs of a newcomer are very different from our seasoned participants. This means that although both tracks will be on the same schedule, learning the same subjects, the discussions and focus will be set appropriately.

What is included in the $700 registration fee?

• 2014/15 MASFAA Membership (so you don’t have to be a member to attend!)
• NASFAA CORE materials and instruction
• NASFAA Credentialing Tests
• 4 nights of accommodations
• All meals and evening activities (except for Wednesday’s Free Night)

What does a suite-style room include?

Each suite in the University Tower includes contemporary furnishings with two un-lofted beds, a full attached bathroom, and wi-fi.