The Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA) held their annual conference earlier this month. The conference was held virtually, allowing attendees to stay safe while engaging with the comprehensive and exciting program of training topics to share visions, plans, and nuances in financial aid for the years ahead.
Brenda Brown, College Aid Services’ Director of Business Development, not only attended the conference, but held a vital role within the 2021 Conference Committee. As a member of the FASFAA Website Team, she developed the Business Partner presence on the FASFAA website and served on the Conference Committee as the Conference Website Coordinator to manage the conference content. When the decision was made to hold the conference virtually, Brenda was asked to lead a team of FASFAA volunteers to research available platforms and manage the virtual platform solution selected for the conference. The solution she and the volunteers selected provided an experience that mimicked an onsite conference as best as possible: attendees had the opportunity to attend general and concurrent sessions as well as opportunities to network with each other and to learn the business solutions and services offered by business partners in a virtual exhibit hall.
In addition, FASFAA President Dameion Lovett also asked Brenda to lead the FASFAA Website Improvement Task Force, which consisted of Dameion Lovett (University of South Florida), Somnath Chatterjee (Florida State University), Jermiah McMahon (Keiser University) and Edward Schworn (Florida International University). The FASFAA website was updated and improved to provide relevant content for FASFAA members and guests which were categorized under Member Services, Leadership, Conference, Events and News, Resources, Business Partners, and About Us.
At the conference, Brenda was celebrated as a recipient of the President’s Recognition Award. The President’s Recognition Award is awarded at the discretion of the sitting president for exceptional service to the association. In addition to Brenda, other President’s Recognition award recipients included Teriann Wright (Orange Technical College), Laura Dickerson (Sallie Mae), Kristina Chavers (University of Central Florida), Heidi Goldsworthy (Stetson University), and Edward Schworn (Florida International University), who also received the inaugural Ollicia Anderson Achievement Award. Jennifer Towers (University of Florida) received a Certificate of Appreciation, Jill Lennox (St. Petersburg College) and Dr. Pat Watkins (Eckerd College) received the Lifetime Service Recognition Award, and Maureen Anderson (State College of Central Florida) received the Honorary Lifetime Award.
On behalf of all of us here at College Aid Services, we would like to congratulate Brenda and these recipients for receiving these esteemed recognitions. We are truly proud to have Brenda as such a vital part of our company.