How to use our
Professional Associations
to help you climb your Career Ladder
NASFAAMASFAAMASFAP
Who I am and Why I’m here
Cindy Butler• Retired (2011) Director of Student Financial Services,
Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City• Past MASFAP President• Past MASFAA President• Past NASFAA Board of Directors• MASFAP Lifetime Member
CAREER a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a
permanent calling
JOB something that has to be done
HATS we wear...• Accountant• Public Relations Specialist• Psychologist• Librarian• Attorney• Researcher• Mentor• Teacher/Trainer• Writer• Public Speaker• Desk Top Publisher• Information Technologist• Coach• Arbitrator• Strategist
• File Clerk• Receptionist• Social Worker• Diplomat• Event Planner• Government Agent• Supervisor• Law Enforcement Officer• Tax Law Expert• Statistician• Banker• Financial Advisor• Counselor• In Loco Parentis/Advocate• Project Manager
How can we possibly be effective in all of these roles?
• Which of the hats already fit you comfortably?• Which interest you?
• Which can you reasonably develop?• Which are just not going to happen?
Tools to help you wear those hats
• Teams with complementary skills• Delegation• Education (formal or informal)
• Practice• Risk taking• Networking
More Tools to help you wear those hats
The leadership opportunities available through•MASFAP•MASFAA• NASFAA
RememberNo matter how high nor vast the throne, what sits on it is the same as you own.
FSA Handbook
Missouri Association of Student Financial
Aid Personnel
MASFAPrepresents Missouri’s
interests and tells Missouri’s story
MASFAP• we’re like a family• we had Allan Purdy• in-state travel• we give everyone a chance• we welcome newcomers as part of our mission• it’s the first step on the ladder• you can dip your toe• president: administers, represents & presides
sits on MASFAA Board
Midwest Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators
MASFAArepresents the Midwest in
the national arenaIllinois*Indiana*Iowa*Michigan*Minnesota
Missouri*Ohio*West Virginia*Wisconsin
MASFAA• less familiar territory• larger arena• for those already proven at state level• competition is greater• more diverse group & opinions• regional travel• president: administers, represents & presides
sits on the NASFAA Board
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
NASFAAprovides a forum for national policy discussion
NASFAA• playing with the big kids now• for those already proven at state & regional level• very diverse group & opinions• political• national travel• professional staff supports & administers• national chair presides
What these organizations
are looking for:• willingness to serve your colleagues• willingness to work hard• follow through/reliability• diversity (all membership represented)• new ideas• accountability• quality• future leaders
Join a committeeChair a committeeRun for an office
TAKE A CHANCE
MASFAP Committees• Archives• Awards• Career Schools• Early Awareness• Legislative• Newcomer Welcome• Professional
Development• Research
• Association Governance/ Legal Issues
• Budget and Finance• Corporate Support• Membership• Nominations and Election• Program• Technology and
Communications
MASFAA Committees
• Archives• Association Governance
and Planning• Awards• Conference Program• Conference Local
Arrangements• Corporate Support• Donor Development• Family Educational
Concerns• Federal Issues
• Finance & Audit• Leadership Institute• Membership Services• Newsletter• Nominations and Election• Professional Development• Research• Retiree Involvement• State & Conference
Liaison• Summer Institute• Web Services
NASFAA Committees• Access and Diversity• Association Governance
and Membership• Awards• Federal Issues• Financial Affairs• Graduate/Professional
Issues• Journal of Student Aid
Editorial Board
• Leadership Development and Professional Advancement
• National Conference• Nominations and Election• Publications Editorial
Board• Research• Technology Initiatives• Training and Professional
Development
Developing Your Interests and Skills Through Committee Work
HATS we wear...• Accountant• Public Relations Specialist• Psychologist• Librarian• Attorney• Researcher• Mentor• Teacher/Trainer• Writer• Public Speaker• Desk Top Publisher• Information Technologist• Coach• Arbitrator• Strategist
• File Clerk• Receptionist• Social Worker• Diplomat• Event Planner• Government Agent• Supervisor• Law Enforcement Officer• Tax Law Expert• Statistician• Banker• Financial Advisor• Counselor• In Loco Parentis/Advocate• Project Manager
Accountant/Banker/Financial Advisor
• MASFAP Treasurer; Budget and Finance; Corporate Support
• MASFAA Treasurer; Finance & Audit
• NASFAA Financial Affairs
Writer/Desk Top Publisher
• MASFAP Archives; Technology & Communications; Program
• MASFAA Archives; Newsletter;• NASFAA Publications; Journal of
Student Financial Aid; Training & Professional Development
Teacher/Trainer/Coach/Mentor
• MASFAP Professional Development; Newcomer/Welcome; Conference Presenter
• MASFAA Professional Development; Summer Institute; Conference Presenter
• NASFAA Leadership Development and Professional Advancement; Leadership Institute; Training and Professional Development; Conference Presenter
Information Technologist
• MASFAP Technology & Communications; Membership
• MASFAA Web Services• NASFAA Technology Initiatives
Psychologist/Counselor/Advocate
• MASFAP Early Awareness• MASFAA Family Educational Concerns• NASFAA Access and Diversity
Attorney/Statistician/Government Agent
• MASFAP Legislative; Research• MASFAA Federal Issues; Research• NASFAA Federal Issues; Research
My Leadership Journey
• Started in Financial Aid Avila College 1986
• Ran for MASFAP Secretary 1990, 1991, 1993 (lost all 3 times)
• MASFAA Fundamentals Host 1991• NASFAA Student Aid Transcript cover
article 1992• MASFAP Newsletter Co-Editor 1993 • MASFAP Newsletter Editor 1994-96
(committee of the year) • MASFAA Newsletter Committee 1995
(7 articles)• MASFAA Newsletter Editor 1996• MASFAA Executive Board 1996• MASFAP President 1997• MASFAA Executive Board 1997• MASFAP Early Awareness Chair 1999
• ACT Missouri Council President 2000• Missouri School-College Relations
Commission President 2000-02• MASFAA President 2001• Started new position at MCC 2001• NASFAA Board of Directors 2001-2004• MASFAA Past President 2002-04• MASFAP Past Presidents Chair 2003-05• MASFAP Leadership Symposium Chair
2004, 2005• MCC Administrative Association
President 2004• NASFAA Nom/Elections Committee
2006-08• NASFAA Rep at Large 2008-11• NASFAA Finance Committee 2009-11• Retired 10/2011
1986 to 2011
MY SECRETS
…
1. I had a realistic vision2. I took risks 3. I got to know a lot of people4. I chose the best people I knew to work with
me5. I let them do their work6. I broke down barriers for them whenever
possible7. I didn’t take myself too seriously8. I had fun