BOARD | STAFF

2023-2024   Board Of Directors

Officers

Angela Baier

Chair

CollegeInvest | College Assist
Read Bio

Chad Tate

Chair-Elect

Educational Credit Management Corporation
Read Bio

Christiana Thornton

Immediate Past Chair

Granite Edvance
(formerly The NHHEAF Network)
Read Bio

Wendy H. McAlister

Treasurer

College Foundation, Inc.
Read Bio

James P. Bergeron

Secretary

National Council of Higher Education Resources
Read Bio

Directors At-Large (Term expires June 30, 2024)

Photo of Diana Barber

Diana Barber

Director At-Large

Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Read Bio

James T. Farha

Director At-Large

Oklahoma Student Loan Authority
Read Bio

Ron Gambill

Director At-Large

Education Loan Finance Inc. (ELFI)
Read Bio

Photo of Ray Jones

Ray Jones

Director At-Large

SC Student Loan
Read Bio

James B. (Jimmy) Parker

Director At-Large

Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Foundation
Read Bio

Directors At-Large (Term expires June 30, 2025)

Scott A. Giles

Director At-Large

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
Read Bio

Scott D. Giles

Director At-Large

Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority
Read Bio

Melissa Neal

Director At-Large

Oklahoma College Assistance Program
Read Bio

Staff

James P. Bergeron

President

James P. Bergeron currently serves as President of the National Council of Higher Education Resources (NCHER), which represents a nationwide network of lenders, secondary markets, guaranty agencies, loan servicers, private collection agencies, schools, and others that assist students, borrowers, parents, and families access, manage, and pay for the costs of postsecondary education. The membership includes education finance organizations that administer and service federal education loans and entities that underwrite, administer, and service private education loans.

Prior to joining NCHER, James worked as the Director of Education and Human Services Policy for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. In this capacity, he advised Chairman John Kline, members, and staff, and oversaw policy development on all areas of education and human services programs, including the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Head Start Act, and other federal laws governing elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education.

Before joining the Committee in 2006, James served as Legislative Director in California Rep. Buck McKeon’s personal office where he was responsible for developing and implementing the legislative agenda within the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness. He authored important legislative initiatives on college affordability and financial aid simplification. James began his Capitol Hill service almost 20 years ago as a Legislative Assistant to former Louisiana Rep. Bob Livingston, who chaired the House Appropriations Committee.

James also served as Vice President of MARC Associates (now part of Holland & Knight), a government relations firm where he consulted for a number of elementary and secondary education and higher education organizations.

He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Stefanie Gramm, CMP

Director, Operations & Meetings

Stefanie Gramm is NCHER’s Director of Operations and Meetings, a position she has held since 2003, and is responsible for all logistical aspects for more than 10 meetings and an exhibition each year. She serves as liaison to the Board of Directors, coordinates meeting site research and selection, manages vendor contracts, performs in-house accounting, manages member dues, assists the CFO with budget preparation and auditing, and is the office manager.

Stefanie, who is a certified meeting professional and holds a legal assistant certification from Washington Business School, has more than 20 years of experience and expertise in the meetings and event management arena. Prior to joining NCHER, she was Director of Member Services at IMN Solutions for six years. Stefanie has also worked at GMG Solutions and Pfizer.

Vicki Shipley

Senior Advisor

Vicki Shipley is Senior Advisor to the National Council of Higher Education Resources (NCHER). A 42-year veteran of higher education finance experience, Vicki is staff liaison to many of the NCHER committees and caucuses with a focus on policy development and implementation, compliance as well as regulatory and legislative activities. She held similar positions at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and Southwest Student Services.

Vicki has a graduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Springfield and an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Illinois State University.