Why Attend the MASFAA Conference?

Hear from a few of your colleagues why they like to attend the MASFAA Conference:

"The annual MASFAA conference has evolved significantly in the 12 years I've been in this profession. When I look at the variety and depth of sessions, as well as the impressive list of presenters (both from the Department of Education as well as from member schools), sending a group of 5-6 Miami University staff makes complete sense. I've come to regard the conference as being all the content of the summer NASFAA meeting without the high travel costs."

Charles Knepfle
Assistant Provost and Director of Student Financial Assistance
Miami University

"The MASFAA Conference is just the right size – not too big and not too small. You have an opportunity to meet and talk with people you don't run into on a regular basis. You get to learn from colleagues who often present the same topics at national conferences. What you don't get at the MASFAA Conference is a feeling of being overwhelmed by a general session filled with 3,000 of your closest friends!"

Richard Eddington-Shipman
Director, Office of Financial Aid
Michigan State University

"In this age of ever shrinking travel budgets I need to prioritize my travel and time out of the office based on the return on investment. The annual MASFAA conference provides direct access to national speakers and aid experts, a broad scope of interest sessions that touch on every aspect of aid administration, and the opportunity to collaborate with my peers and agency staff throughout the Midwest on regional issues that are affecting schools like mine, all at an affordable price and convenient location."

Steven M. Schuetz
Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid
Ripon College

"I attend MASFAA conferences for several reasons.

1. MASFAA conferences provide excellent training by a variety of superb trainers on all aspects of financial aid, i.e., technical, regulatory, best practices, legislative, administrative, etc.
2. I can talk with my colleagues throughout the region to discuss common interests, goals, and possible solutions.
3. I have developed a network with MASFAA colleagues that has proved to be invaluable when getting an answer in a timely fashion is critical.
4. I have made many friends at MASFAA who share the same commitment and dedication to the financial aid profession.
5. And lastly, a MASFAA conference is one of the few places where our unique jargon is not only practiced, but understood and added to!"

Diane Lambart Fleming
Associate Director-Client Services
Central Michigan University

"I like attending the MAFSAA conference because it always has an outstanding program that contains national-quality speakers and sessions at an affordable price. The conference provides an opportunity to network with a wide-range of colleagues in a comfortable setting, which is often difficult to do at crowded national conferences. I also encourage my staff to attend because there are sessions for all experience levels and program responsibilities. The MASFAA Conference has something for everyone."

Dan Mann, Director
Office of Student Financial Aid
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"Being larger than your state conference but smaller than NASFAA, attending MASFAA enables you to increase professional knowledge and stay abreast of current regulations all within a regional environment. Best of all-- you have the comfort of being with people you know."

Michiale M. Schneider
Co-Chairperson
MASFAA Conference Local Arrangements