The NASFAA Board of Directors honored NASFAA President Dallas Martin with NASFAA's Lifetime Membership Award, the highest award that NASFAA can bestow on one of its members. In addition to the Lifetime Membership Award, Martin was given the title of President Emeritus upon his planned retirement on Dec. 15. That date will mark Martin's 32nd year with NASFAA and will conclude an illustrious and dedicated 39 year career in student financial aid. Martin gave the final remarks at the closing breakfast at the Annual Conference Wednesday morning.
"Dr Martin, thank you for always helping me remember what's important: 'opening doors of educational opportunity,'" said outgoing NASFAA Chair Janet Dodson at the closing breakfast. "You have dedicated your life to financial aid and you personify the best of the profession."
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The newly elected NASFAA 2007-08 National Chair Michael Bennett added, "You have always embodied the best in all of us and it is an honor for me to work with you during your final six months as president of NASFAA."
Bennett gave special thanks to Martin for serving the financial aid community so well and stressed to Martin the members' genuine affinity for him.
"Wherever I went, from the front line worker, to the financial aid director, to the college president, people would approach me and ask with genuine concern 'How's Dallas?'" said Bennett.
While his retirement date approaches, there are indications that he may not be done yet!
"I would like nothing more than to have you and your family join me at next year's Annual Conference in Orlando to present me with my NASFAA gold pin," said Bennett. "The pin that you have bestowed on 30 other National Chairs."
Martin joked that as far as he could tell, "emeritus status" meant that he retains all of the rights and responsibilities of the office, but without any of the pay.
Martin graciously thanked the Board of Directors for the award but said the award was "bitter-sweet," indicating how difficult it will be for him to leave the association where he has dedicated 32 years of his professional life.
"I have never worked with a better group of people," said Martin during a particularly tender moment at Monday's lunch where he was awarded the emeritus title. "The people I have worked with over the years are some of the most ethical, honest and dedicated individuals I've met. To see NASFAA members maligned the way you have really hurts, but we have been criticized before and we always get up and go back to work because we know how important it is to help students."
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A Long and Dedicated Career
Martin recounted some of his experiences over the course of his 39 year career when he took his first assistantship at the University of Northern Colorado. He readily admits that he only took the assistantship because he had procrastinated completing the application process for so long that it was the only assistantship left.
"Imagine that, the only one left was in the financial aid office," quipped Martin. "I can't imagine why?" he laughed.
Martin said that he originally thought that he disliked financial aid because there were too many forms with too much bureaucracy. But his attitude quickly changed because of his friend and mentor Harry Collins, the financial aid director at Northern Colorado.
"I learned quickly that this is a 'people business,'" said Martin.
Collins taught Martin how to work with the "very, very poor" students and families who wanted a college education. Collins would commit families to cover a portion of their tuition bills, no matter how small, and do whatever he could to cover the rest through financial aid.
"He let them leave with dignity and with them knowing that they are a part of the process," Martin explained.
Martin went on to become a director of financial aid at an open enrollment community college where "students came and went at all hours of the day and night." Although he held a few other positions in those years, he said that the people that he liked best were the financial aid administrators.
Martin recounted many of the changes that he has seen over the decades since his beginnings in financial aid but stressed that helping students has never changed.
The Work Is Not Yet Done, There Are Still Battles To Fight
Martin cautioned participants about several trends that he has found particularly troubling. Martin expressed concern about the global, knowledge-based economy where the next generation workforce will need much more than a high school diploma to maintain the standard of living that Americans currently enjoy. Other countries are educating their workforce, according to Martin, and at a much faster rate.
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"U.S. college participation rates are flat," said Martin.
"The future of the U.S. depends on an educated citizenry and the U.S. needs to refocus its resources to ensure that every able child is able to achieve a higher education, otherwise our future is threatened. No one understands that better than NASFAA members and part of our responsibility is to get politicians and citizens to also understand this," explained Martin on Monday.
Martin also asked members to be cautious in their attempts to simplify the student aid process, specifically by attempting to eliminate more and more data elements from the FAFSA. If too many data elements are eliminated from student aid forms, it will be difficult to differentiate between those who have some need and those with real need, according to Martin.
Martin stressed that students and parents have the personal responsibility to pay for college, and while financial aid administrators are now serving more students, with more tools, and more dollars than ever before, they must continue to ensure that the neediest find access to higher education.
Continue To Focus On Students
"We've had differences with our colleagues at the Department, Congress, and investigators that have led to accusations that painted us all with a broad brush," said Martin. "But, we have to let it go."
Martin admitted that resentment may sometimes feel justified, but that it ultimately distracts people from focusing on who they are and their mission.
"You are the professionals that create opportunity everyday," Martin concluded. "It is the most honorable profession anyone could ever have."
Other Media Coverage
By Justin Draeger
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications
Photos provided by Reginald Pearman Photography.
Posted 07/12/07 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
