1. Charting Your Professional Career Path in Financial Aid
Marvin Smith, Director of Student Financial Services,
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

2. How To Steer Your Own Canoe and
Go With the Flow

3. JOB or PROFESSION?
A JOB is paid position of regular employment A PROFESSION is job that requires special education, training, or skill—and a commitment where you “profess” your allegiance to a set of beliefs
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

4. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

5. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

6. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

7. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

8. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

9. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

10. The Student Aid Profession
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

14. Who is Responsible for Your Professional Development?
Your boss? Your school? WASFAA? MASFAA?
Who has a job? Who thinks they have a career?

15. YOU!

16. Promoting Your Professional Development
Learn all you can about your job duties and that of others
Be naturally curious about how financial aid processes work
Ask to take on more responsibilities if you have ideas on more you could do for office
Become a mentor and trainer of others within the office to share your knowledge and be seen as an expert
Consider applying for promotional opportunties
Ask to attend every conference that relates to your job duties or could enhance your ability to do your job better (but don’t be discouraged if you cannot attend every conference!)
Remember it is a privilege to attend a financial aid conference
Bring back conference knowledge to your colleagues

17. Professional Involvement Helps Your Professional Development
Enhance your professional skills by learning from others
Learn how to develop and influence change in an organization
Enhance professional relationships by building personal and professional contacts
Boost your visibility to others in the industry and expand your professional horizons
Explore career possibilities
Enhance experience for your resume
Develop people skills and communication skills
Network with colleagues for future opportunities

18. Your Professional Development Helps Your Institution
You bring back best practices from colleagues
You learn skills to help develop and influence change in an organization that can be used on your campus
You learn who to call (and trust) with campus has questions
You learn about new rules and regulations
You develop people skills and communication skills that you bring back to campus
Network with colleagues for future opportunities

19. Professional Involvement
Applying knowledge, skills and contacts to work as a team to advance the knowledge, skills and contacts of other members of the association.
Volunteer opportunities can be:
Moderators
Presenters
Trainers
Committee members
Committee chairs
Executive Board members

20. “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make”
--The Beatles
“In the end, the professional development you take is equal to the professional development you make”
“My heroes in financial aid all recognize a personal responsibility to give back to our profession”
--Marvin Smith

21. Where do you fit? NASFAA MASFAA WASFAA
Update graphic for specific state

22. Ask Yourself… Can I make a difference. Can I be committed
Ask Yourself… Can I make a difference? Can I be committed? What is my passion? What are my skills? What is stopping me?
WASFAA
MASFAA
NASFAA
Update graphic for specific state

23. Who is WASFAA? What is the WASFAA mission?
How long has WASFAA been in existence?
How many members?
Growing or shrinking?
How can YOU give back to WASFAA?

24. Who is MASFAA?
The Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) is an organization of over 1,200 financial aid professionals.
MASFAA comprises the nine states: Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, West Virginia.  
Our purpose is:
to promote the professional preparation of individuals within financial aid;
to develop effective programs related to student financial aid;
to facilitate communication between all interested parties within the financial aid community; and
to continually evaluate and update our services. 

25. Financial Aid Associations in our Region

26. MASFAA Board Elected Officers State Association Presidents President
President-Elect
Vice President
Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Four Delegates at large
State Association Presidents
Illinois
Iowa
Indiana
Missouri
Michigan
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Ohio
West Virginia

27. MASFAA Board and Committee Chairs 2017-18
Name
Role
Nick Prewett (MO)
President
Sue Swisher (IL)
Past President
Marvin Smith (IN)
President Elect
Heidi Carl (IN)
Vice President
Kathy Bialk (IA)
Treasurer Elect
Amanda Fijal (IL)
Treasurer
Crystal Bruntz (MO)
Delegate - Y1
Emily Haynam (OH)
Triena Bodart (WI)
Delegate - Y2
David Vikander (MN)
Jana Albrecht (IL)
Secretary
Name
Role
Ted Malone (IN)
Awards
Jayme Jarret (OH)
Communications/Electronic Initatives
Karla Weber (WI)
Conference Program
Alex DeLonis (IN)
Dick Battig (MN)
Conference Site Selection
Chad Olson (IA)
Donor Development
Matthew Kearney (MO)
Membership Services
David Peterson (IN)
Professional Development
Aesha Williams (IL)
Sue Swisher (IL)
State and Conference Liason
Anne Kaluza (MN)
Local Arrangements
Derek Kindle (WI)
Diversity
Vickie Crupper (MI)
Access

28. Current MASFAA State Presidents
Michelle Cornell Illinois
Leo Hertling Indiana
Chris Ditter Iowa
Ryan Rafko Michigan
Anne Dahlen Minnesota
Samantha Matchefts Missouri
JoAnn Ross West Virginia
Matt Moore Ohio
Katie Kraemer Wisconsin

29. Who is NASFAA?
Who We Are – Nearly 20,000 student financial assistance professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every ten undergraduates in the U.S.
Our Vision – Shaping the future by promoting student access and success in higher education. 
Our Mission – The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)  provides professional development for financial aid administrators; advocates for public policies that increase student access and success; serves as a forum on student financial aid issues, and is committed to diversity throughout all activities.

30. NASFAA Board There are 21 members of the Board of Directors:
Three officers (the National Chair, Chair-Elect, and Immediate Past National Chair) who serve one-year terms;
Six Representatives-at-Large who serve two-year terms;
Six Regional Representatives who serve one-year terms;
The Treasurer, who serves a one-year term;
Three non-voting Commission Directors who serve one-year terms;
The President of the Association, who serves on the Board in a non-voting capacity;
And the Secretary to the Board, who is selected by the president and also serves in a non- voting capacity.

31. NASFAA Volunteers
Every year, over 150 members volunteer their expertise.
Volunteers share new ideas that influence the development of NASFAA programs, products, and services.
Volunteers serve as committee chairs, committee members, and speakers.
Volunteers are typically employees of NASFAA member institutions.
Volunteers usually have prior experience at the state and regional levels.
The majority of volunteer opportunities involve topical, short-term Task Forces that are announced through Today’s News.

32. Getting Involved Start small – committee member or moderator
Always obtain your supervisor’s permission
Inquire about the time commitment
Do your part – hold true to any commitments you make

33. Learn about the Organization
Mission Statement
Overall goals of the organization
Identify within yourself how you fit into this mission
Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
Legal context of the organization
Policy and Procedure Manual
Day to day operations of organization

34. Methods of Volunteering
Can you volunteer through the organization’s website?
Paper volunteer forms available at a training or conference
Reach out to the committee chair or a member of the organization’s leadership team

35. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
State Leadership Symposiums
Self nomination or invitation
Beginner or advance level
MASFAA Leadership Symposium
Nomination by state presidents or self nomination
New this year:
Aspiring Aid Director and Women in Leadership tracks
NASFAA Leadership Conference
Generally state or regional leadership
New & aspiring director track
New Enrollment Management track

36. MODERATOR TO PRESENTER
Start small through collaboration
Panel member
Co-presenter
State vs. Regional Conference
Know your materials
Anticipate questions
If regulatory presentation, ask a federal trainer, respected colleague or NASFAA for assistance
Accurately depict your session in the description

37. COMMITTEE MEMBER TO COMMITTEE CHAIR
Next logical step in leadership progression is to assume chair role
Inquire about the time commitment
What is your reputation on the committee?
Is the current chair moving on?
Notify the person selecting chairs of your interest

38. SERVING AS AN OFFICER
Do you meet the eligibility criteria established for the office?
Inquire about the time commitment
Being asked vs. self-nomination
Which office best meets your skill set and experiences?

39. BEING A GOOD STEWARD TO THE ORGANIZATION Know your job description
Read meeting materials ahead of time
Attend meetings and pay attention during those meetings
Meet commitments

40. DUTIES OF CARE, LOYALTY AND OBEDIENCE
Standard expectations of being a board member of a non- profit board
Care – attend meetings, read reports, know about the organization
Loyalty – acting in the best interest of the organization
Obedience – making sure that your organization is following all laws and that there are enough resources allocated for the organization to accomplish its mission

41. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
Remember that you represent all of the following if you are a leader in an organization:
Yourself
Your Institution
Your Organization
Your Profession

42. EXIT STRATEGY Life Does Happen Action required dependent on timing
Communication is Key
Notify leadership immediately
Decide on duty reduction or complete exit
Lack of action is not a viable option!