In this month’s Team Spotlight, we’re excited to feature Nanette DiLauro. Nanette began her journey in higher education in 1992, assuming key roles as Director of Financial Aid at both Columbia University and Barnard College, where she made significant contributions over 13 years. She joined College Aid Services in 2023, where she continues to leverage her extensive expertise in areas such as PowerFAIDS, institutional methodology, FISAP, and federal compliance. Her depth of expertise not only strengthens our team’s capabilities but also enhances the support we provide to our clients. Nanette received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Cedar Crest College. Read below what Nanette has to say about being a consultant and her advice to fellow professionals.
What do you like most about being a consultant?
I like that as a consultant, you get to know new members of the financial aid community and see how each school is unique. I worked at the same institutions for years at a time doing need-based aid and now, I get to see how other places operate and help them succeed. We are usually brought in when there is a tough situation, so it’s really rewarding to build them back up regardless of how much money the school has or the families that they serve. You go in, get the job done, and then move on to your next assignment.
What do you enjoy about working for College Aid Services?
You can tell that they care about their clients and consultants at College Aid Services. What I enjoy is that it’s not just the consultants that are supportive to each other; the leadership is always asking what they can do better or what we need to progress. I’ve worked in places where that didn’t exist and it’s hard to describe how uplifting it feels when you know that the entire office has your back. I love working in the background, so it’s important to have a good team that can support you regardless of whether they’re in the room with you.
What areas do you specialize in?
I’d say that I’m a jack of all trades after years as a director in Financial Aid. Many of the positions that I have within a client’s FA office are generally for interim leadership because I understand what needs to be done and execute a plan to make it happen. These days, I’m learning more about things from the perspective of a systems manager and focus on tasks like updating websites, troubleshooting software, and running data-heavy reports – it was intimidating at first, but it became second nature eventually.
How do you stay up to date with regulations and policy changes?
The best way to stay up to date on regulations is to make sure that you sign up for the newsletters and emails that are sent out on regularly. NASFAA posts, College Aid Services’ news blog, webinars, the FSA Handbook – I get up in the morning and check these sources because they’re helpful and break important stories before most of us get out of bed to start the day. I know that may feel old-school to some of the newer professionals in the field, but that’s how you’re going to keep up with all the changes that are coming our way on a daily basis. The most important thing is that we stay up to date, so that we can make sure that the everything we do better serves families and makes college accessible to them.
What challenges do you see on the horizon in Financial Aid?
There are so many challenges in Financial Aid right now. We’re obviously focusing on the issues with the FAFSA because the changes are difficult whether you just started in financial aid or have been in the field for years. Long term, I am worried about the next generation of leaders because of how many people are leaving higher education and taking their experience with them. One of my main goals this point in my career is to make sure that I’m empowering younger professionals and helping clients see the untapped potential in their staff. It is so important that there are financial aid officers who see the importance helping families and make sure that their departments are successful for years to come.
What advice would you give to a new Financial Aid officer?
For new Financial Aid officers, I tell them that they have to bring their patience and sense of humor to work every day to make it in this field. Your day will never go as planned and the key is to be a team player in order to deal with all of the constant changes that come with financial aid. Right now, I feel like the high turnover is leaving many new officers in a position where they don’t have the same resources or mentorship that my generation had when we started. The best advice that I can give new officers to is to stay updated with new information and find guidance wherever you can; whether it’s in your office, at conferences, or someone from another school.
What do you like to do when you are not doing Financial Aid?
When I’m not cooking or cleaning, I enjoy going to the gym and hanging out with my cat Anthony. He is such a silly nut and always keeps me entertained with his antics; I appreciate him so much more now that I’m working from home all the time. I am also a die-hard Yankees fan…they would have won the World Series 3 years in a row if I coached them for a few seasons. I am actually going to watch them play on Opening Day for the first time since 2009, so I am very excited to go cheer them on in-person.
If you are interested in joining Nanette and the rest of our College Aid Services team, review our current openings here. To learn more about how College Aid Services can help your institution, contact us at info@collegeaidservices.net or by phone toll-free at 833-GETCAS1 (833-438-2271).