FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allie Arcese
Director of Communications, NASFAA
(202) 785-6954
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 24, 2024 — The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) today announced that its President & CEO, Justin Draeger, will be stepping down from his role, effective June 21, 2024 following the National Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For 14 years, since assuming leadership on July 1, 2010, Mr. Draeger has been instrumental in shaping NASFAA’s success, growth, influence, relevance, and capacity to serve NASFAA’s members. 

During his tenure as President & CEO, Mr. Draeger spearheaded several initiatives that elevated industry standards in the financial aid profession — including the creation of the AskRegs Knowledgebase, the development of NASFAA’s credentialing and certification programs, and the establishment of NASFAA's award-winning Diversity Leadership Program.  Known for his direct and honest approach to advocacy and fostering personal relationships inside the beltway, Mr. Draeger has transformed NASFAA into an essential, nonpartisan player on federal student aid and college affordability issues. 

"When I came into this role, I set out to strengthen our association, expand its capacity to serve financial aid offices across the country, and speak directly and honestly with all of our stakeholders in a town where obfuscation and political calculus often carry the day. Most of all, I vowed to stay focused on our vision: that no qualified student be denied access to a quality postsecondary education solely because they lacked the money," Draeger said. "Even in times when we fell short of our aspirations, our community rallied together to try and try again, because that's what financial aid offices do: provide hope for new beginnings and second chances. And that's a cause every American can believe in. I’ll miss working in this role, but have never been more optimistic about the future of the association and of the profession."

Following his role at NASFAA, Mr. Draeger will be transitioning to a new role as a Senior Vice President at the Strada Education Foundation, where he will continue his contributions to higher education by spearheading a national effort to ensure postsecondary education is affordable for all learners, no matter their socioeconomic background. 

In light of this transition, NASFAA is pleased to announce the Board of Directors has appointed Beth Maglione as the interim President. Ms. Maglione, NASFAA’s longtime Executive Vice President, brings over 20 years of experience in higher education leadership to her new role. Her tenure as the organization’s second-in-command, liaison to the Board of Directors, and operational lead makes her well-equipped to ensure operational continuity during this period. Meanwhile, NASFAA’s Board of Directors will appoint a Presidential Search Committee in the coming weeks, which will take the lead on finding and vetting a new leader for the association. The NASFAA Board expects to begin the search process immediately, hoping to make a final decision by the end of the year. 

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Justin Draeger for his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication during his tenure as President of NASFAA. Justin’s visionary guidance has propelled NASFAA to new heights, championing crucial initiatives that have positively impacted students, financial aid offices, institutions, and the higher education landscape,” said Helen Faith, 2023-24 National Chair of NASFAA. “Under Beth Maglione’s interim leadership, we are confident in NASFAA’s continued excellence in all aspects in this transitional period and beyond, including continuing outstanding service to our members and impactful advocacy for our profession and for student aid.”

For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

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About NASFAA

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the U.S. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.