TASFAA FINANCIAL AID REGIONAL TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Student Center

Transcription

1 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, :30am 8:30am Registration and Continental Breakfast Theater Room 103 Theater Room 103 8:30am 9:00am Welcome Session Moderator: JoEllen Soucier, Executive Director of Financial Aid at Houston Community College Presenters: JoEllen Soucier Housekeeping Items Delisa Falks, Assistant Vice President of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Texas A&M University Alan Ahmad President of TASFAA, Director of Financial Aid at Alamo Colleges Tracie Hunter Executive Director of Financial Aid at Lone Star College Theater Room 103 9:00am 10:00am Spotlight Session The Texas Coordinating Board State Aid Update Moderator: JoEllen Soucier, Executive Director of Financial Aid Presenter: Sophia Rodriguez Title: The Texas Coordinating Board State Aid Update Description: This Year is Now is Session: The 85th Texas Legislature is now in session and a lot of exciting activity is on the horizon. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will discuss a few of the Legislative recommendations that were submitted that could impact the Toward Excellence Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant and the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG). In addition, updates to a variety of forms and processes will be presented so that participants can get connected with the new and improved resources that can be used to administer state financial aid programs. Location: Theater Room 103 9:00am 10:00am INTEREST SESSIONS Thursday, February 16, :30am 11:30am High School Validation Presenter: JoEllen Soucier Title: High School Validation and Diploma Mills Description: Possessing a high school diploma or its equivalent is a primary student aid eligibility requirement. The elimination of ATB in 2012 and the implementation of standardized graduation tests have created a breeding ground for the existence of diploma mills. This session discusses some of the efforts being made by state and federal government officials to combat diplomas mills. What is required of schools to validate high school credentials? Are you in compliance? What are some best practices when determining whether a diploma is valid for the purpose of qualifying for federal student aid? Where does a "home school" fit into the validation discussion? Location: Downtown Room :30am 11:30am

2 Social Media Presenters: Shar-day Campbell Title: Meet Students Where They Are: A look at Social Media Opportunities for Financial Aid Description: You send students s and you re slammed with questions. You update the website and post information that goes unread. Let s be honest, the struggle is real for financial aid professionals to grab students attention and educate them about financial aid process. Q: So, what s a financial aid pro to do? A: Meet them where they are on social media. Many know social is great way to connect, but don t know where to start, what to communicate, what NOT to communicate and what students will want to see. Don t look at it as a challenge. Look at it as an opportunity. This presentation will cover: social media opportunities for financial aid professionals; best way to align social efforts with department goals; fool-proof tips on how to get started with social; and case studies from Texas financial aid departments seizing opportunities to reach students on social and digital media platforms. You don t want to miss this presentation. Meet us there. Location: Heights - Room :30am 11:30am Verification Presenter: Barbara Winchell Title: Verification Back to Basics with Prior Year Description: This session will discuss the Verification Requirements for the year including the new conflict code 399 used for addressing differences on and applications. Verification requirements that are no longer needed will be reviewed. We will discuss the verification requirements, documents, and procedures. Location: Skyline - Room :30am 11:30am Customer Service Presenter: Tracie Hunter Title: Customer Service Excellence Description: This session will provide participates with an understanding of the Do s and Don ts in customer service at the frontline. Discussion will include thought provoking topics and recommendations. This session will challenge how we view and deliver Exceptional Customer Service. Location: Midtown - Room :30am 11:30am SunTrust Partnership with First Marblehead Corp. Presenter: Kim Thomas, Relationship Manager Title: Financial Aid Jeopardy Description: Test your financial aid knowledge by playing Jeopardy. Location: River Oaks - Room :30am 11:30am

3 LUNCH Thursday 11:30am 12:30pm INTEREST SESSIONS Thursday, February 16, :30pm 1:30pm Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Presenter: Erin Porter Title: Satisfactory Academic Progress Developing a SAP Policy and an Appeal Process Leading Students to Success Description: The financial aid offices are required to develop and monitor a student s progress prior to providing federal funding and, if school chooses to do so, develop an acceptable appeal process which now includes a student s academic plan leading them towards success and completion. This session will explain the expectations of a good SAP policy to ensure that federal regulations are being met and utilizing Professional Judgement when making appeal decisions for students who are not following the school s Satisfactory Academic Policy guidelines. Location: Midtown - Room :30pm 1:30pm Undocumented Students Presenter: Rosa Rojas Title: Understanding Undocumented Students and Resources Description: This session will examine the federal and state laws regarding financial aid eligibility for undocumented students, with an outline of the Texas State application process. Discussion will include various state laws, in-state tuition exceptions, and available funding for students who are not US Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens. Location: Heights - Room :30pm 1:30pm Ethics and Code of Conduct Presenter: Barbara Winchell Title: Ethical Responsibilities and Adhering to Code of Conduct Standards Description: Most institutions have standards of conduct policies that employees must agree to when accepting a position and maintain while holding the position. These conduct expectations include terms such as integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, respect, stewardship, compliance, good judgment, and confidentiality. Financial aid is governed by a number of standards and principles that all aid administers are expected to adhere and details are contains in regulations and acts such as FERPA, Program Integrity, Fiscal Responsibility, and Statement of Ethical Principles. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) provided us with an updated Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct in March of 2014 in which many financial aid operations have adopted as their guide for their own standards of conduct. What do these ethics principles means to your office? What would you consider acceptable behavior and practices? Where are the lines drawn and how do you know if you or a colleague has crossed the line? These questions and more will be discussed during this session Location: Skyline - Room :30pm 1:30pm

4 Verification Presenter: Boni Jacobs Title: Verification Working with Income Tax Documents Description: This session will discuss the various verification tax documents that are used to complete verification and address conflicting information. We will review W2 forms, Tax Transcripts, Account Transcript, Amended Returns, TBDRV Record, Foreign Returns, and more. Location: Downtown - Room :30pm 1:30pm FA TV Presenter: Dan Dreves, Director of School Partnerships Title: Would You Read Your Own Website? Description: This is a fun session! Your financial aid website provides essential information for students and parents, but content-heavy doesn't have to be uninteresting and boring. Learn ways to improve the organization and clarity of your website. See examples of schools across the country as they deliver their message to students. Check out how some schools use colors, numbers, storytelling, and online tools. Small adjustments can make a huge impact on the effectiveness of your online presence. Location: River Oaks - Room :30pm 1:30pm Thursday, February 16, :45pm 2:45pm Customer Service Presenter: Delisa Falks Title: Customer Service Excellence Description: This session will provide participates with an understanding of the Do s and Don ts in customer service at the frontline. Discussion will include thought provoking topics and recommendations. This session will challenge how we view and deliver Exceptional Customer Service. Location: North Impact - Room 113 1:45pm 2:45pm Verification Presenter: Dennise Mendez Title: Verification and Conflicting Information Description: Identifying, resolving, and documenting conflicting information. This session will discuss the types of conflicting information that results from doing a verification review and how those conflicts can be resolved. This includes Marital Status Conflicts, Tax Filing Conflicts, and reported data that cause conflicts. We will go over the 399 comment code that exists for the year and determine appropriate action when resolving the conflict when comparing the two award years. Location: Downtown - Room 261 1:45pm 2:45pm

5 Ethics and Code of Conduct Presenter: Barbara Winchell Title: Ethical Responsibilities and Adhering to Code of Conduct Standards Description: Most institutions have an employee standards of conduct policy that employee must agree to when accepting a position and maintain while holding the position. These conduct expectations include terms such as integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, respect, stewardship, compliance, good judgment, and confidentiality. Financial aid is governed by a number of standards and principles that all aid administers are expected to adhere and details are contains in regulations and acts such as FERPA, Program Integrity, Fiscal Responsibility, and Statement of Ethical Principles. What do these ethics principles means to your office? What would you consider acceptable behavior and practices? Where are the lines drawn and how do you know if you or a colleague have crossed a line? These questions and more will be discussed during this session. Location: Midtown - Room 262 1:45pm 2:45pm Campus Logic Presenter: Niki Harris, Regional Director Title: 5 Must-Haves For Modern Financial Aid Description: Fact: Students are glued to their mobile devices. Fiction: Financial Aid isn t mobile. Rather than waiting for students to look up from their gadgets, Financial Aid Offices need to get in front of them where they live: their phones. Modern Financial Aid is the solution. In this interactive session you ll experience first-hand how paperless file review, automated student follow-up including SMS/text-messaging and , and automated file indexing and imaging can change your institution s entire approach to financial aid. Hear about the dramatic impact personalized mobileoptimized web-form wizards, automated updates, e-signature, and secure document upload from any device will have on your student experience. Location: Heights - Room 224 1:45pm 2:45pm Thursday, February 16, :00pm 4:00pm Prior Prior Year Panel Presenter: JoEllen Soucier, Delisa Falks, Alan Ahmad, Tracie Hunter Title: Verification Panel Discussion on Prior Prior Year/Early FAFSA Description: This session will discuss the preparations for Prior Prior Year, how schools are addressing the first year of Prior Prior, and the unintended consequences of doing Early FAFSA using a prior prior tax year. Location: Downtown - Room 261 3:00pm 4:00pm

6 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, :30am 8:00am Registration and Continental Breakfast Ballroom Room 210 Ballroom Room 210 8:00am 9:00am FA TV Presentation Presenter: Dan Dreves, Director of School Partnerships Title: Would You Read Your Own Website? Description: This is a fun session! Your financial aid website provides essential information for students and parents, but content-heavy doesn't have to be uninteresting and boring. Learn ways to improve the organization and clarity of your website. See examples of schools across the country as they deliver their message to students. Check out how some schools use colors, numbers, storytelling, and online tools. Small adjustments can make a huge impact on the effectiveness of your online presence. Location: Ballroom Room 210 8:00am 9:00am Ballroom Room 210 9:00am 10:00am Spotlight Session The Texas Coordinating Board State Aid Update Moderator: JoEllen Soucier, Executive Director of Financial Aid Presenter: Sophia Rodriguez Title: The Texas Coordinating Board State Aid Update Description: This Year is Now is Session: The 85th Texas Legislature is now in session and a lot of exciting activity is on the horizon. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will discuss a few of the Legislative recommendations that were submitted that could impact the Toward Excellence Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant and the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG). In addition, updates to a variety of forms and processes will be presented so that participants can get connected with the new and improved resources that can be used to administer state financial aid programs. Location: Ballroom Room 210 9:00am 10:00am INTEREST SESSIONS Friday, February 17, :30am 11:30am US Department of Education Dallas Office Moderator: JoEllen Soucier Presenters: Kevin Campbell Title: Federal Update Description: Kevin Campbell from the Dallas Office of the Department of Education will provide a federal update for Title IV financial aid programs. Location: Downtown Room :30am 11:30am

7 Social Media Presenters: Shar-day Campbell Title: Meet Students Where They Are: A look at Social Media Opportunities for Financial Aid Description: You send students s and you re slammed with questions. You update the website and post information that goes unread. Let s be honest, the struggle is real for financial aid professionals to grab students attention and educate them about financial aid process. Q: So, what s a financial aid pro to do? A: Meet them where they are on social media. Many know social is great way to connect, but don t know where to start, what to communicate, what NOT to communicate and what students will want to see. Don t look at it as a challenge. Look at it as an opportunity. This presentation will cover: social media opportunities for financial aid professionals; best way to align social efforts with department goals; fool-proof tips on how to get started with social; and case studies from Texas financial aid departments seizing opportunities to reach students on social and digital media platforms. You don t want to miss this presentation. Meet us there. Location: Skyline Room :30am 11:30am Financial Literacy Presenter: Joel Philistin Title: Financial Literacy: What s That? or Why does it Matter? Description: After graduating, many college graduates are surprised comparing their income to their student loan payment. This session will provide an open forum for institutions to discuss implementing and scaling a financial literacy program to help students regardless of the size or type of institution. Location: Astrodome Room :30am 11:30am Verification Presenter: Boni Jacobs Title: Verification Back to Basics with Prior Year Description: This session will discuss the Verification Requirements for the year including the new conflict code 399 used for addressing differences on and applications. Verification requirements that are no longer needed will be reviewed. We will discuss the verification requirements, documents, and procedures. Location: Midtown Room :30am 11:30am Customer Service Presenter: Erin Porter Title: Customer Service Excellence Description: This session will provide participates with an understanding of the Do s and Don ts in customer service at the frontline. Discussion will include thought provoking topics and recommendations. This session will challenge how we view and deliver Exceptional Customer Service. Location: River Oaks Room :30am 11:30am

8 LUNCH Friday 11:30am 12:30pm INTEREST SESSIONS Friday, February 17, :30pm 1:30pm Ethics and Code of Conduct Presenter: JoEllen Soucier Title: Ethical Responsibilities and Adhering to Code of Conduct Standards Description: Most institutions have standards of conduct policies that employees must agree to when accepting a position and maintain while holding the position. These conduct expectations include terms such as integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, respect, stewardship, compliance, good judgment, and confidentiality. Financial aid is governed by a number of standards and principles that all aid administers are expected to adhere and details are contains in regulations and acts such as FERPA, Program Integrity, Fiscal Responsibility, and Statement of Ethical Principles. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) provided us with an updated Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct in March of 2014 in which many financial aid operations have adopted as their guide for their own standards of conduct. What do these ethics principles means to your office? What would you consider acceptable behavior and practices? Where are the lines drawn and how do you know if you or a colleague has crossed the line? These questions and more will be discussed during this session Location: Astrodome Room :30pm 1:30pm Undocumented Students Presenter: Rosa Rojas Title: Understanding Undocumented Students and Resources Description: This session will examine the federal and state laws regarding financial aid eligibility for undocumented students, with an outline of the Texas State application process. Discussion will include various state laws, in-state tuition exceptions, and available funding for students who are not US Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens. Location: River Oaks Room :30pm 1:30pm Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Presenter: Erin Porter Title: Satisfactory Academic Progress Developing a SAP Policy and an Appeal Process Leading Students to Success Description: The financial aid offices are required to develop and monitor a student s progress prior to providing federal funding and, if school chooses to do so, develop an acceptable appeal process which now includes a student s academic plan leading them towards success and completion. This session will explain the expectations of a good SAP policy to ensure that federal regulations are being met and utilizing Professional Judgement when making appeal decisions for students who are not following the school s Satisfactory Academic Policy guidelines. Location: North Impact Room :30pm 1:30pm

9 Financial Literacy Presenter: Joel Philistin Title: Financial Literacy: You can build it, but will they come? Description: You can build it, but will they come? Sometimes you have to think out the box to increase student engagement. This session will discuss creative ways to get students engaged and excited about Financial Literacy. Location: Downtown Room :30pm 1:30pm Verification Presenter: Boni Jacobs Title: Verification Working with Income Tax Documents Description: This session will discuss the various verification tax documents that are used to complete verification and address conflicting information. We will review W2 forms, Tax Transcripts, Account Transcript, Amended Returns, TBDRV Record, Foreign Returns, and more. Location: Midtown Room :30pm 1:30pm Friday, February 17, :45pm 2:45pm Resources Presenter: Zena Williams Title: Maximizing the use of Financial Aid Resources Description: The session will focus on the many types of online financial aid resources that are available to financial aid administrators. An explanation of the different resources is provided and how each resource can assist with the complexity of financial aid regulations. Location: Midtown Room 262 1:45pm 2:45pm Financial Literacy Presenter: Joel Philistin Title: Developing Buy in for Financial Literacy on your Campus Description: Financial Literacy is still a fairly new topic on college campuses. This session will discuss ways to leverage your school s administration, faculty, staff, and students to develop an impactful financial literacy program and foster a holistic approach to student success. Location: Downtown Room 261 1:45pm 2:45pm

10 Verification Presenter: Dennise Mendez Title: Verification and Conflicting Information Description: Identifying, resolving, and documenting conflicting information. This session will discuss the types of conflicting information that results from doing a verification review and how those conflicts can be resolved. This includes Marital Status Conflicts, Tax Filing Conflicts, and reported data that cause conflicts. We will go over the 399 comment code that exists for the year and determine appropriate action when resolving the conflict when comparing the two award years. Location: Astrodome Room 257 1:45pm 2:45pm Friday, February 17, :00pm 4:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm Campus Logic Presenter: Niki Harris, Regional Director Title: 5 Must-Haves For Modern Financial Aid Description: Fact: Students are glued to their mobile devices. Fiction: Financial Aid isn t mobile. Rather than waiting for students to look up from their gadgets, Financial Aid Offices need to get in front of them where they live: their phones. Modern Financial Aid is the solution. In this interactive session you ll experience first-hand how paperless file review, automated student follow-up including SMS/text-messaging and , and automated file indexing and imaging can change your institution s entire approach to financial aid. Hear about the dramatic impact personalized mobileoptimized web-form wizards, automated updates, e-signature, and secure document upload from any device will have on your student experience. Location: Downtown Room 261 3:00pm 4:00pm

11 PRESENTER BIOS (ALPHA ORDER): Alan Ahmad, President of TASFAA and Director of Student Financial Aid, Alamo Colleges Alan Ahmad has served the students of Texas as a financial aid administrator at Texas State University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and currently at Alamo Colleges in San Antonio. As the TASFAA President he is working on initiatives to increase our presence in the Texas Legislature and expand training opportunities within the financial aid community. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, a special-ed teacher, and teenage son who is passionate is the theatre. Alan s daughter is studying Fine Arts at the University of Texas in Austin. Kevin Campbell, Training Officer, U.S. Department of Education Kevin Campbell is a Training Officer with Federal Student Aid, one of twenty Training Officers nationwide and one of three located in the Dallas Regional Office. He conducts Departmental Training Workshops on Title IV Administration and represents Federal Student Aid at financial aid related events such as this. Kevin has served with the United States Department of Education since Prior to becoming a Training Officer in 2006, he worked with the Department s Dallas School Participation Division for twelve years. Before working for the people of the United States, Kevin worked for many years in the hospitality industry primarily for the Marriott Corporation. Kevin has attended three Universities, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. He graduated from Northwestern U. with a Bachelors in Philosophy with primary study in Political Science. Kevin has an active life outside of Title IV where he enjoys travel, scuba diving, Civil War History, the Texas Rangers and his four grandchildren! Kevin and his wife, Sherry, live in Arlington, Texas the home of the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys! Shar-day Campell, Financial Aid Communications and Social Media Coordinator, Houston Community College Shar-day Campbell is an award-winning communicator and certified social media expert whose gift for storytelling led her to a career in communications, television and public affairs. Recently, she joined Houston Community College (HCC) as the financial aid department s communications and social media coordinator. Prior to joining HCC, her background included work with marketing firms, non-profit organizations, elected officials, energy service companies, government contractors, and national television shows on networks including OWN, 20th Century Fox, NBC, ABC, TLC, BET, TV One and the Food Network. Campbell s work and dedication to service have not gone unnoticed. She is the recipient of the YMCA Minority Achiever and HESP Union Pillar of the Community Awards. Her work has also been recognized by several elected officials and Houston Chapters of the International Association of Business Communicators, American Marketing Association and Public Relations Society of America. A proud University of Houston Cougar, Shar-day Campbell is a Cum Laude graduate who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate/Organizational Communication. Dan Dreves, Director of School Partnerships Dan has over 30 years of experience working in higher education, including Director of Financial Aid, Director of Housing, and Associate Director of Fiscal Management. In addition, Dan has served as Director of New England Client Services for

12 EdFund and Regional Director for Nelnet. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Journalism and a Master of Education from Colorado State University. Dan is a world traveler and has been to over 60 countries. His interests include archeology, exploring nature, boating, and enjoying his wife s cooking! Dan is based in Orlando, FL. Delisa Falks, Assistant Vice President-Scholarships & Financial Aid Delisa has served Twenty eight years in the Scholarships & Financial Aid Office at Texas A&M University. She has been involved in Texas Association of Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA) as a Regional Trainer, Co-Chair of the Regional Training Committee, Chair of the Regional Training Committee, Conference organizer, the Bylaws Committee, Secretary and is currently on the TASFAA Board and serves as the Vice President for the board. Delisa has presented at the regional, state and national level at various conferences and regional training sites various scholarships and financial aid topics. Delisa is also currently serving on the Coalition of State University and Aid Administrators (COSUAA) Steering Committee and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board s Financial Aid Advisory Committee as the Chair for She is a recipient of the TASFAA Hall of Fame Award. Delisa leads of team of 65 full time staff, in addition she served as the coordinator for the Terry Scholarship Program at Texas A&M University for the past 13 years. Throughout her tenure in Scholarships & Financial Aid she has been active in many aspects of the industry. She also severed on many campus committees, such as Student Rules Committee, Drug and Alcohol Committee, the University and Counselors Board and selected to serve as a campus representative for various committee s which select various vendors used by Texas A&M. Delisa has been recognized by Texas A&M University as outstanding employee and received the prestigious Traditions of Excellence Award and well as being selected by her team members in Scholarships & Financial Aid as employee of the semester twice in her tenure. Delisa was recognized by students as she was selected as a Fish Camp namesake in 2010, which is a coveted honor amongst the Texas A&M faculty and staff; recently Delisa received the Academic Services Pillars of Excellence Award. Tracie Hunter, Executive Director of Financial Aid Tracie Hunter is the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Lone Star College. She began her financial aid career as a work study student while attending Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. She quickly fell in love with helping her peers and decided that she wanted a career in Higher Education. Two years following the completion of her baccalaureate degree from Occidental, she was offered a position as a Financial Aid counselor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Tracie quickly moved up in her career working as a Counselor, Assistant Director, and was offered her first Director position at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA. Tracie has served as Director in four year public and private institutions as well as two year public and private colleges. She has worked at institutions in California, North Carolina, and Texas. In addition to managing the financial aid office, she has managed the Registrar, Veterans and Welcome Center departments. She is excited to serve as the Executive Director at one of the largest community college systems in Texas. Tracie has 19 years progressively responsible experience in Financial Aid administration. She earned her Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton and is currently in the dissertation phase of a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education Leadership from Walden University. Boni Jacobs, District Processing Manager Boni Jacobs reigns from the grand state of Iowa. She received her bachelor s degree from the University of Iowa. She was the first African American female police officer hired as a patrol officer for the Waterloo Police Department which

13 provided her with the training and skills necessary to deal with difficult situations. Boni also worked as an Educational Counselor for the Educational Opportunity Center at the University of Northern Iowa, and held several positions within the financial aid department at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa before transitioning her financial aid career to Houston Texas in Boni has served as Interim Executive Director at Houston Community College and as Assistant Director at Rice University. She currently serves as the Manager of the Central Processing Center, where she manages a team of seventeen financial aid associates. Boni also assists with resolving technical issues for the financial department and is currently serving on a committee formed to assist the enrollment department with streamlining the application processes to improve the student experience in all areas of student services. Dennise Mendez, Financial Aid Advisor II Dennise has been in the Scholarships & Financial Aid Office at Texas A&M University coming up on three years. She holds a Bachelor s degree in Finance and Management and a Master s degree in Education Administration from New Mexico State University. She oversees the Marital and Tax Filing Status conflicts process. She has worked to help implement reports and processes to help monitor, resolve and process these conflicts. In October 2016 she presented at the Texas Association of Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA) annual conference on Marital & Tax Filing Status Conflicts. Joel Philistin, Financial Coach, Houston Community College Joel Philistin has been working as a Financial Coach at Houston Community College (HCC) since January Prior to joining HCC, Joel worked in both the Banking and Nonprofit industries. In the Banking industry, he learned the importance of credit and good money management skills. In the nonprofit industry, Joel used these skills to help low income entrepreneurs prepare for small business loans and new opportunities. Joel now shares his expertise with students to help them maximize their resources and build strong financial foundations. Joel s main focus is the importance of budgeting, saving, managing credit, and maintaining good standing with student loans. Erin Porter, Associate Director Erin Porter has served in Scholarships & Financial Aid at Texas A&M University for over twelve years in roles as an Advisor, Assistant Director of the Call Center and Front Desk, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Processing and currently as Associate Director of Customer Service, Advising, and Student Employment. In addition to oversight of these areas, she is responsible for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and Return of Title IV Aid (R2T4) processes. Erin was a member of the TASFAA Training Committee from 2009 through 2012, serving as Chair in 2011 and This committee plans and executes the annual New Aid Officer s and ABC s Workshops. In 2011 she received the TASFAA Financial Aid Star Award. Erin received her B.B.A. in Marketing from Texas A&M University and is a member of the Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2000! She is married to Weston, a fellow Aggie and a Texas A&M faculty member and they have two young sons.

14 Sophia Rodriguez - Program Specialist for Financial Aid Services/Trainer Sophia Rodriguez has been working at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for over 6 years in various positions and currently is one of two Program Specialist on the training and communications team. During her tenure, she has managed both the TEXAS Grant and the Top 10% Scholarship programs and has become a subject matter expert on a variety of other processes and programs at the agency. Prior to working at the Coordinating Board, she worked at the City of Austin Neighborhood Housing Community Development department and had an established a career in mortgage banking. Rosa Rojas, Financial Aid Advisor Rosa A. Rojas has served as an advocate of higher education for 15 years at Houston Community College for students, their families, and community through the roles of Veterans Affairs Certifying Official, Financial Aid College Work-study manager, and Financial Aid Advisor. Rosa holds a Bachelor s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies & Middle School Education from the University of Houston Victoria and is currently pursuing a Master s degree in Community College Leadership and Administration from Capella University. Throughout her professional career, Rosa has demonstrated and fostered leadership qualities among colleagues and students. Rosa enjoys being active in the community coordinating and participating in events that expand financial aid awareness both in English and Spanish. Shavaun Rooker, Regional Financial Aid Manager, Houston Community College Shavaun was promoted to Financial Aid Regional Manager for Houston Community College last year. She has a Bachelor s Degree in Business Management and is pursuing a Master s in Higher Education. Shavaun has worked in higher education since 1999 and in financial aid since She worked for the University of Houston for 4 years, the University of Phoenix for 6 years, and has been with Houston Community College for 8 years. JoEllen Soucier, Executive Director of Financial Aid, Houston Community College JoEllen Soucier has over 28 years of experience working for five colleges/universities in three states and consulted with colleges and universities throughout the US. Hesser College in Manchester as the Executive Director of Student Financial Programs. University of Tampa (UT) as the Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management overseeing Admissions, Financial Aid, and Marketing. Franklin Pierce University as the Director of Financial Aid and Interim Director of Institutional Research. Mount Wachusett Community College as the Director of Financial Aid and Registrar. Vice President of Operations for full-service financial aid consulting company working with over 50 colleges and universities providing a variety of consulting and remote processing services. In July of 2013, JoEllen accepted the position of Executive Director of Financial at Houston Community College. JoEllen holds a Bachelor s Degree in Business from Franklin Pierce University, an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, a Master s in Information Systems with a concentration in Database Design from Southern New Hampshire University, and is pursuing a Doctorate s in Higher Education from Northeastern University.

15 Zena Williams, Director of Financial Aid Operations, Houston Community College In May of 2014, the Financial Aid Department at Houston Community College, to further enhance its efforts maintaining compliance while administering Title IV Aid, added a Compliance Manager to the leadership team. Zena Williams s higher education career spans twenty-five (25) plus years. Zena has served as lead administrator for several program reviews, announced and unannounced, and accreditation visits. Zena has worked in both proprietary and traditional education. She also is a Senior Consultant for Sarge Advisors and specializes in organizational operations and development. Zena is currently completing her thesis, The African American Male Perspective: A Diverse Experience in Higher Education and is schedule to receive a Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution in May.