I was able to enroll in Just the FACTS! as a newbie in the financial aid field. Just the FACTS! gave me a comprehensive overview of the workings of federal and state financial aid. I learned a great deal from this lecture series through the instruction of seasoned financial aid administrators and from working alongside my peers on financial aid case studies.

The Public Relations Committee organized several networking events in which I was able to meet MASFAA colleagues. Final Flings were a great way to celebrate the end of the fiscal year and spend time with other financial aid administrators that I did not get to see often.

The Professional Development & Training Committee coordinated superb training workshops that I tried not to miss. While my position does not involve direct financial aid packaging, the Needs Analysis Workshop gave me a better understanding of federal and institutional methodologies. I was excited about attending the annual MASFAA Conference.

The Conference Committee did a great job in organizing the three-day event and filled it with many valuable workshops and opportunities to catch up with colleagues. The Government Relations Committee coordinated great conversations as well as kept me apprised of new legislation via the listserv. College Goal Sunday provided a great service to the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was great being able to give back to the community and work with prospective college students. The Newsletter Committee produced great issues that I always look forward to reading. The Early Awareness Committee provided information for many students in Massachusetts about higher education opportunities. The Technology Committee was persistent in organizing and updating our website. The Membership and Development Committees have raised funds so that MASFAA can provide the services that it does. The EASFAA Representative has kept us updated on what other states are doing.

When I joined CEED, I was welcomed by all of the members. The meetings were a great way to meet other professionals of color and work on projects for MASFAA. Through my experience as a contributing member of the committee, I was given the opportunity to pursue a leadership position within the group. Having been a Chair for the past couple of years, I’ve learned a great deal about collaborating with other committees and working with the Executive Council to produce valuable programming for the organization. Coordinating with the Professional Development & Training Committee was instrumental in creating a sense of community through the first workshop that we organized. The nondiscrimination policy was also a great success.

It has truly been an honor to work with members of CEED in producing programming that engages the MASFAA community about diversity awareness. The workshops and Diversity Library have been effective additions to the services that MASFAA provides.

CEED has served as a great support network for me and it has encouraged its members to seek leadership positions within the organization and their professional lives. Several CEED members have been promoted to higher positions and have also won seats on the Executive Council.

I would definitely encourage MASFAA members to join a committee and use the resources that MASFAA has to offer. Being active in MASFAA is a great way to network with others and to give back to the community. Becoming a member of any committee can lead to leadership opportunities where you can create change within the community. I would especially encourage members to join CEED. I’ve had great experiences with CEED as the committee is welcoming and quite active.