OASFAA is excited to offer the inaugural annual New Aid Officer Workshop to our members! This drive-in workshop will offer entry-level and new-to-the-profession financial aid professionals an opportunity to network and connect with peers from across the state, increase their knowledge of financial aid, and enhance their personal and professional skillsets. General sessions will focus on enhancing your professional brand, delivering top-notch customer service and growth in the financial aid field. A diverse panel of financial aid professionals from across the state will offer their advice, guidance, and discuss their own experiences navigating the financial aid field.
Additionally, all attendees will receive instruction and be able to sit for the NASFAA Student Eligibility Credential.
February 21, 2025
8:30am-4:00pm
@
Franklin University
Register for New Aid Officer Workshop
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 AM | Check-in & Breakfast |
| 9:00-9:30 AM | Networking Activity |
| 9:30-12:00 PM | NASFAA Credential Workshop: Student Eligibility |
| 12:00-12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 12:30-12:45 PM | Sponsor Highlights |
| 12:345-1:45 PM | Building a Personal & Professional Brand |
| 1:45-2:45 PM | Things I Wish I Knew as a New Financial Aid Professional (Panel) |
| 2:45-3:45 PM | Delivering Top-Notch Customer Service |
| 3:45-4:00 PM | Closing & Give-a-ways |
Kristy Elton is the Director of Buckeye Link at The Ohio State University. Buckeye Link is Ohio State’s “One-Stop” for Undergraduate and Graduate and Professional Admissions, University Orientation, Student Financial Aid, the University Bursar and Registrar. Kristy earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and her master’s degree in higher education administration, both from the University of Toledo. Kristy is passionate about providing excellent customer service and removing barriers for students throughout their higher education journey.
Kim Jenerette has served in the financial aid industry for almost 31 years. He began his career at Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC) as a financial aid counselor in charge of the loan program. Just over 4 years later, he served as the Associate Director of Financial Aid at Furman University (Greenville, SC). He later served as the Director of Financial Aid at USC Upstate (Spartanburg, SC) and Southern Wesleyan University (Central, SC). He currently serves as the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Cedarville University (Cedarville, OH) and has been there the past 12+ years. During his career, he has served on numerous advisory boards and has also served as SCASFAA President, SASFAA Vice-President, and many years on both the SCASFAA and SASFAA Boards. Nationally, he has served as a Representative-at-Large on the NASFAA Board of Directors. During 2009, he served as a negotiator for negotiated rule-making for Team II (overseeing negotiations for loans). Kim has presented at conference sessions in OASFAA, SCASFAA, SASFAA, and NASFAA, and has also served as New Aid and Mid Level Instructor for SCASFAA and SASFAA at various workshops throughout the south and southeast portions of the U.S.for many years. Kim has been married to his wife Lisa for 37+ years and has 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. He loves to travel and enjoys hiking with his wife.
Jayme Jarrett is the Director of Financial Aid at Bluffton University, in Bluffton, Ohio. Like most higher education professionals, she worked as a student during undergrad and began her higher ed career at her alma mater as an admissions counselor. In her 20 years in higher ed, she’s worked at small private schools, a large public university, and a for-profit institution and was a director of admissions before switching to financial aid. Jayme holds 17 NASFAA credentials and the Certified Financial Aid Administrator (FAAC®) certification. She has held numerous positions in both OASFAA and MASFAA, including serving OASFAA in 24-25 as Past-President and chair of the Nominations, Association Governance and Planning, and Leadership committees. In her spare time, you’ll find her at the soccer field cheering on her son’s high school team, serving as the manager for his club soccer teams, running the high school team’s social media, or maybe even refereeing a match. She is a passionate fan of the Atlanta Braves.
Brenda Burke serves as the Associate Vice President of Student Financial Aid at Kent State University. She has worked 39-years in the financial aid profession. Her background encompasses work and leadership experience in the proprietary, 2-year public, and 4- year public sectors at various institutions in Virginia, Utah, and Ohio. Brenda has been a former chair of the 2023 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conference mentor task force, former president of the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA), former vice president of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA), professional development chair of the Ohio Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA), and instructor for both the SASFAA New Aid Officers workshop and the Rocky Mountain Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s (RMASFAA) Summer Institute. She has volunteered and served on many state, regional, and national committees. Brenda received her bachelor of business administration degree with a minor in math from Radford University and her master of higher education administration from Old Dominion University. passionate fan of the Atlanta Braves.
Matt Kirksey, FAAC, (a Certified Financial Aid Administrator) currently serves as the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Stark State College, where he plays a pivotal role in ensuring students receive the financial support they need to achieve their educational goals. His leadership at Stark State College is marked by a commitment to student success, process simplification and improvement, and a deep understanding of the financial challenges that students face. Matt has been an active member of the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA), serving in various elected positions. For the two most recent academic years, he served as the Vice President for Training, where he was responsible for developing and implementing training opportunities that support financial aid professionals across the state. His dedication to professional development and education within OASFAA underscores his commitment to fostering excellence in the field. Matt's educational background continues to expand as he is pursuing a professional Doctoral degree with a specialization in Educational Leadership from Capella University, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to personal and professional growth.
Taylor Rutter has served as Assistant Director of Financial Aid Advising at Ohio University for the past two years. In her role, she supports in-person client services center and provides one-on-one support to students and their families. Taylor graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in Finance. Prior to working at Ohio University, she worked in healthcare administration and billing. Taylor's passion for supporting college access led her to pursue a career in financial aid.