"Beth Maglione couldn’t have chosen a more fraught moment to take up the helm of the nation’s largest advocacy organization for financial aid professionals," Inside Higher Ed reports.

... "Named interim president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators in June, Maglione, who has been with the organization since 2008, assumed the top role at a time of heightened scrutiny of the financial aid system and historic disillusionment with the rising cost of college. She’s very aware of the challenges she faces."

"'I’ve worked in this field for a really long time, and I can’t remember a time when our name was so aligned with what’s going on in the national conversation,' she said."

"Last year’s bungled rollout of a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid threw the financial aid world into chaos, frustrating college enrollment planning and throwing up barriers to federal aid for the students who need it most. The administrators and staff Maglione represents saw their workloads multiply, and burnout in the sector is on the rise. In addition, students and families are more concerned than ever about the cost of college and the value of a degree, and financial aid offices often bear the brunt of those worries."

"Maglione’s predecessor, Justin Draeger, testified at congressional hearings about the botched FAFSA rollout; NASFAA often served as a liaison between vexed aid offices and Education Department officials trying to clean up the mess. As the department prepares to enter a two-month testing period for this cycle’s federal aid form, NASFAA will once again be thrust into the role of financial aid watchdog, looking for early signs of delays and prepared to point out any technical missteps."

"Maglione spoke with Inside Higher Ed about the state of student aid, the organization’s College Cost Transparency Initiative and her hopes—and fears—for this year’s FAFSA."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 9/23/2024