Our June Team Spotlight is Senior Consultant Nancy da Silva! Starting her career as a Financial Aid Advisor, Nancy quickly advanced and now serves as the Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid at Chaminade University. She joined College Aid Services in May 2023.
Nancy brings a diverse skill set from conflict resolution to project management and cross-departmental training. Her leadership and dedication to improving systems has led to significant initiatives that provide clients with comprehensive support to optimize their offices. Read what Nancy has to say about being a consultant and her advice to fellow professionals below.
What do you like most about being a consultant?
I always love a challenge, which makes being a consultant great because each assignment is always a little different. It pushes you to always improve because each school’s standards are different, and you can’t just rely on your experiences from other institutions to help you succeed.
What do you enjoy about working for College Aid Services?
It may sound a little generic, but like the people at College Aid Services the most. I get along with Sara Kaufman and the other consultants; Sara Reese is good for any compliance question. It is so nice to be around like-minded people who want to help financial aid offices get to a better place.
What areas do you specialize in?
I would never call myself a specialist based on how much information we have to know in the field. If I had to pick something that I am knowledgeable about, I would say compliance and technical support is where I have the most experience.
How do you stay up to date with regulations and policy changes?
There are no shortcuts when it comes to regulations and policy changes. I make sure that I attend all of the webinar trainings that I can: NASFAA, College Aid Services, the Department of Education, or regional events that are available. I also pay attention to the email releases that the Department sends out.
What challenges do you see on the horizon in Financial Aid?
There are so many issues that we are facing in this industry right now. I think that convincing students to complete the FAFSA is a huge challenge, and we have to continue to remind potential students of its value. That is easier said than done, considering that the number of completed applications is already down 15% to 20% nationwide.
What advice would you give to a new Financial Aid officer?
I would tell anyone that is willing to join financial aid to be flexible and learn as much as possible in all areas because of how they all interconnect. This is not an industry for people who are looking for lots of perks or to move up the ladder quickly. Be a sponge and be prepared to work.
What do you like to do when you are not doing Financial Aid
Traveling. Even though I currently live in Arizona, I loved living in places near the ocean like Portugal and Hawaii. If I could travel all year-round with my family, I would have the time of my life.
If you are interested in joining Nancy 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).