2024 Annual Conference Program

Program

Welcome to Clearwater

Welcome to Clearwater and the NCHER Annual Conference! We’re so excited that you have joined us for our organization’s premier event that is open and designed for everyone across the higher education finance industry – geared toward providing attendees with ample opportunities to network, learn, and take information back home that they can use in their current jobs.

The NCHER staff and Program Committee have put together a strong program with relevant and timely sessions for all of our members. This year’s theme, “Connections – Bridging the Past and Present and Working for a Better Tomorrow,” is centered around fostering meaningful connections, conversations, and networking opportunities among attendees in an effort to encourage collaboration, idea-sharing, and potential partnerships once you leave the conference. NCHER knows that the industry is changing and wants to create a forum to facilitate the exchange of insights, best practices, problem solving, and innovations.

The conference begins on Monday afternoon with a pre-conference session where first-time and veteran attendees will do a deep-dive into federal policy reviewing recent and upcoming developments at the national and state levels, followed by a Membership Meeting. The conference formally kicks-off on Tuesday with small group break-out sessions where members will hear from their peers on what is going on at their organization and the opportunities and challenges they are currently facing across business lines, followed by sessions reviewing the changing demographics of the current student population and reinforcing the value of higher education, leveraging the value of artificial intelligence to improve higher education financing, and providing an update on the rollout of the 2024-2025 FAFSA [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] and what NCHER members can expect to occur over the next few months following Federal Student Aid’s rocky implementation. After lunch, there are sessions examining the macro trends that will determine and influence the private education loan market in 2024/2025 and combatting financial aid fraud and highlighting best practices that members can undertake to mitigate credit risk. The ever-popular “Ask the Attorneys” session will close out the day. The conference continues on Wednesday with a session reviewing the most pressing state regulatory topics impacting the membership and what steps compliance offices should be taking now to stay ahead of any potential review, keynote remarks from American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Dr. Beth Akers who will share her thoughts on how to improve the federal student loan program and how private student lending can have a greater role in financing higher education, and a session discussing student perspectives on higher education and how to create a successful marketing strategy for your services and programs and realize a return on investment.

During the conference, please make sure that you reach out to our sponsors, get to know the new faces in the crowd, and connect with members of NCHER’s Board of Directors and staff to give your feedback. And of course, Clearwater is a wonderful place to dig your toes into the sand so take some time to recharge your engines. Thank you again for your attendance and ongoing support of NCHER!

James Bergeron signature

James P. Bergeron
President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

“The Law of Connection-your past, present, and future, everything is connected. Your past actions determine who you are today, and your present will decide who you will be tomorrow.”

For Your Information

For Assistance During the Conference

Information regarding the 2024 NCHER Annual Conference can be obtained from the registration desk. Managed by NCHER staff, you will find this a helpful aide in solving problems and answering questions. Whether you need details regarding logistics or general information, we are always pleased to assist you.

Badges

Name badges must be worn at all times in order to be admitted to sessions and meal functions. They can be picked up at the registration desk and are part of your registration packet. Please wear your badge during all NCHER related functions. For identification purposes, each badge is color-coded to specify a specific role:

• Board of Directors • Speaker / Moderator • Sponsor • Attendee • Staff

Evaluation Forms

Your feedback is important to us as we strive to provide you with conferences that meet your needs. Evaluation forms will be sent electronically to all attendees at the conclusion of the conference. This easy-to-use online form will take just a few minutes of your time. Should you have any additional comments or ideas, please send an email to conferences@ncher.org.

NCHER Staff

James P. Bergeron, President
Stefanie Gramm, CMP, Director, Operations and Meetings
Vicki Shipley, Senior Advisor

Mission Statement

NCHER’s mission is to provide superior advocacy, communications, regulatory analysis and engagement, and operational support to its members so they may effectively help students and families develop, pay for, and achieve their career, training, and postsecondary educational goals.

Presentations Link

Attendee List

Program Committee

NCHER would like to recognize and thank the program committee for the countless hours spent putting together the agenda for the Annual Conference. We appreciate your work on behalf of the NCHER membership!

Diana Barber
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation

Sean McTighe
Executive Director, Title IV Compliance and Data Intake Operations
National Student Clearinghouse

Jimmy Parker
President and Chief Executive Officer
Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Foundation

William C. Shaffner
Director Business Development and Government Relations
Missouri Higher Education Assistance Authority

Monday, June 3, 2024

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Meeting of the NCHER Board of Directors
The NCHER Board will meet to receive reports from the Chair, Treasurer, and President on the organization’s advocacy, communications, regulatory, and operational strategies. The meeting is open to NCHER members.

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch and Time on Your Own

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pre-Conference Session – “Federal Update: In the Know in 90”
There are only five months left before the November election that will determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and White House – and who controls the higher education policy levers over the next few years. Even though it is an election year, the U.S. Department of Education continues to move forward on new rules implementing a new federal student loan forgiveness program while continuing its effort to enact borrower-friendly changes to the federal student loan program such as expanding the number of borrowers who can qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness or Income-Driven Repayment and enrolling more borrowers into the new SAVE plan. Meanwhile, the House Education and the Workforce Committee continues to push a series of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, before election-year politics consume the Congressional calendar. This session will provide an update on federal developments and the political/policy outlook over the next few months. This pre-conference session is geared for first-time and veteran attendees who have an interest in federal policy.

Moderator/Speaker
James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

Speakers
Ron Gambill, Executive Vice President of Student Lending and Legislative Affairs
ELFI (Education Loan Finance Inc.)

Vicki Shipley, Senior Advisor
National Council of Higher Education Resources

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Refreshments

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Membership Meeting
NCHER members will receive an update on items discussed at the meeting of the Board of Directors and participate in a roundtable discussion where they will share their thoughts for NCHER’s advocacy, communications, regulatory, and operations strategies over the next year.

Speakers
Diana Barber, Incoming Chair, Board of Directors
National Council of Higher Education Resources
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation

James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

Jimmy Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer
Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Foundation

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
The NCHER membership will honor the recipient of the Jean S. Frohlicher Outstanding Service Award.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open

7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast Buffet

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Small Group Break-Out Sessions
Before the conference formally begins, attendees will break off into small groups where members can hear from their peers – or share with their peers – on what is going on at their organization, the biggest opportunities and challenges that they are currently facing across business lines, what type of assistance they foresee needing over the next year to ensure that they are prepared for success, and other important issues. The two informal discussion break-out sessions include: (1) Federal Student Loan Program, including holders, servicers, guarantors, contractors, and subcontractors and (2) Private Lending, including lenders and servicers.

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Conference Welcome
The NCHER leadership will welcome members to the conference and briefly discuss the conference program for the day.

Speaker
Diana Barber, Incoming Chair, Board of Directors
National Council of Higher Education Resources
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Understanding the Changing Demographics of College Students and Reinforcing the Value of Higher Education
The student landscape in higher education has gone through cataclysmic changes in recent years, which includes increasing diversity, more non-traditional students, fewer international students, and continued adjustments to the needs of the current student population. At the same time, higher education continues to battle the false narrative that college is not worth it. In this session, a panel of experts will examine the changing demographics of the current student population, examine responses by industry, and discuss tips for staying ahead of the trends lines. The session will also examine the trends of Hispanic/Latino students – one of the fastest growing segments of higher education – and the economic case for the value of higher education such individual, societal, and fiscal gains of postsecondary education.

Moderator
Sean McTighe, Executive Director, Title IV Compliance and Data Intake Operations
National Student Clearinghouse

Speakers
Kimberly Lent Morales, Director of Research and Evaluation
Helios Education Foundation

Dr. Justin Ortagus, Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration and Policy and Director of the Institute of Higher Education|
University of Florida

Dr. Paul Perrault, Senior Vice President, Community Impact and Learning
Helios Education Foundation

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Improve Higher Education Financing
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a topic of growing interest and investigation in various fields, including higher education. Colleges and universities are examining its impact on the teaching and learning process by personalizing teaching methods to suit individual student needs, providing prompt feedback, and automating administrative tasks. Institutions are also exploring ways to expand the use of predictive analytics in developing early warning systems to identify students who are at risk of failing or dropping out of school, either for academic or financial reasons, and allocating institutional aid. In the higher education finance industry, several organizations are leveraging AI to improve the borrower experience and improve employee productivity. In this session, a panel of experts will discuss the potential business and financial value of AI and what organizations could realistically accomplish through new technology, explore how to incorporate AI into business practices, programs, and products, and preview recent and upcoming actions by federal and state policymakers.

Moderator
Jimmy Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer
Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Foundation

Speakers
Ian P. Moloney, Senior Vice President, Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs
American Fintech Council

Dino Tsibouris, Partner
Tsibouris & Associates, LLC

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Update on the Rollout of the 2024-2025 FAFSA: Have We Made It Through the Storm
Over the last few months, the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) have struggled to effectively roll out the new 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). While the newly-redesigned financial aid form – with fewer questions and robust use of skip logic – has made it simpler to apply for federal assistance, FSA’s continued delays in providing aid eligibility information to institutions of higher education have forced states to push back their required deadlines and resulted in students picking their colleges without knowing their aid packages. This session will provide an update on Federal Student Aid’s actions on FAFSA simplification and what NCHER members can expect to occur over the next few months.

Moderator
Ron Gambill, Executive Vice President of Student Lending and Legislative Affairs
ELFI (Education Loan Finance Inc.)

Speakers
Alicia Keaton, Interim Associate Vice President, Enrollment Planning and Management, Division of Student Success and Wellbeing
University of Central Florida

Dave Sobush, Director, Research and Policy
Florida College Access Network

12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Private Education Loans: What Macro Trends Will Influence the Size of the Market in 2024/2025?
According to Enterval Analytics, total outstanding private education loan debt stood at $130.28 billion, 7.52 percent of total student loan debt, at the end of the third quarter in 2023. The remaining 92.48 percent of the $1.73 trillion in total student loans were federal loans made through or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. During this time, early-stage delinquencies totaled 3.21 percent, about 18 percent higher than five years ago; late-stage delinquencies totaled 1.47 percent, which is close to pre-pandemic levels; and gross charge-offs totaled 2.71 percent, about 24 percent higher compared to five years ago. During this session, a panel of experts will examine and discuss the past, current, and expected trends in the private education loan marketplace with a special focus on how family/consumer needs are evolving based on federal benefits, school needs, and industry consolidation.

Moderator/Speaker
Joseph A. Santoro, Director – Education Finance Team Leader
BofA Securities, Inc.; Bank of America

Speakers
John Falb, Chief Executive Officer
Enterval Analytics LLC

Pasquale Giordano, Senior Director, Structured Finance
Fitch Ratings

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Refreshment Break

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Protecting Your Investment: Combatting Fraud in Higher Education
As the digital financial industry landscape continues to evolve, the higher education finance industry faces a growing surge in fraudulent activities across federal, state, and private aid programs. The multifaceted nature of fraud in higher education includes account takeovers to third-party frauds to credential thefts. The post-pandemic era has seen a spike in consumer fraud, reaching new heights in 2023, characterized by sophisticated synthetic fraud schemes involving the creation of new identities through combined real and fake data. According to recent information, data breaches in the United States increased 15 percent year over year in 2023 driven by a 38 percent increase in third-party breaches. For the second year in a row, the education field experienced the second highest number of data breaches, which are a leading indicator of future fraud as cybercriminals steal credentials in unprecedented numbers. In this session, a panel of experts will raise awareness of the prevalence of financial aid fraud, discuss different types of fraud and the methods used by fraudsters, and highlight best practices that members can undertake to mitigate credit risk.

Speakers
Bill Ayers, Head of Campus Development
College Ave Student Loans

Carlos Sanchez, PhD, Senior Advisor, Global Fraud Solutions
TransUnion

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. “Ask the Attorneys”
The “Ask the Attorneys” panel has been a staple of NCHER conferences, providing an opportunity for conference attendees to hear first-hand from legal experts on those hot topics impacting the higher education finance industry. During this session, a panel of attorneys will discuss the main issues that they are following – and what the members should be following – and respond to questions from the audience to discuss current and anticipated legal proceedings impacting federal and private student loans. The final 20 minutes of the session will include a discussion of recent state attorneys general investigations, litigation, and enforcement actions impacting the industry and how the NCHER membership can prepare for civil investigative demands, responses to requests for information, agency audits, and litigation in both state and federal court.

Moderator
Jack Wallace, Director of Lender Relations and Public Affairs
Yrefy, LLC

Speakers
John L. Culhane, Jr., Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP

Mike Kilgarriff, Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP

Kelly Lipinski, Member
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC

Dino Tsibouris, Partner
Tsibouris & Associates, LLC

5:00 p.m. Wrap Up and Conference Adjourns

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration Open

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Conference Welcome
The NCHER leadership will welcome members to the conference and briefly discuss the conference program for the day.

Speaker
James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. “Hot Topics in the States”
Over the last year, states have continued to be an active and aggressive regulator in the higher education finance space. The Minnesota Legislature, as one example, is currently in the process of considering legislation to regulate private education loan programs such as requiring lenders to obtain a license and follow certain rules and requirements to originate and service private loans in the state. Additionally, several states – Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Washington – have passed or considering legislation regarding true lender to restrict interest rates for consumers in their states or opting-out of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA). In this session, a panel of experts will discuss the most pressing topics impacting the NCHER membership and what steps compliance offices should be taking now to stay ahead of any potential review.

Moderator
Diana Barber, Incoming Chair, Board of Directors
National Council of Higher Education Resources
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation

Speakers
Phil Kinman, Director of Compliance
Higher Education Servicing Corporation

Kelly Lipinski, Member
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC

David Tallman, Member
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Keynote Address: Dr. Beth Akers, American Enterprise Institute
Dr. Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, is one of the most prominent higher education thought leaders in the United States. In addition to testifying before Congress, her writing and research on ways to reform the federal student loan program have been published or featured extensively in the Boston Globe, CNN, Education Next, New York Daily News, New York Post, Newsweek, Time, The Hill, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Her broadcast appearances include ABC News, Bloomberg Television, C-SPAN, and CNBC. Recently, she published a report on how private student lending can repair higher education and an article on how the federal student loan program is unraveling. In this session, Dr. Akers will share her thoughts on the Biden Administration’s actions around student loans.

Introduction
James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

Speaker
Dr. Beth Akers, Senior Fellow
American Enterprise Institute

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Student Perspectives in Higher Education: What is the Best Way to Reach Potential Borrowers and Improve the Marketing of Your Services and Products?
The current Generation Z student population is the first generation not to know life without the internet and turn to their favorite apps – from YouTube to Reddit – more than they turn on the tv. A recent report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation found that young students without college diplomas have a less favorable view of postsecondary education because of the negative articles about college accountability that are questioning the true value of higher education. So how do you – the NCHER membership – market your services and products to these digital natives, and how do you overcome the negative stereotypes of student loan debt? What steps do you need to take to improve the marketing of your products either on your website or with your local institution? This session will discuss student perspectives on higher education and how to create a successful marketing strategy so that you can realize a return on investment.

Introduction
James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

Speaker
Leela Ramdeen, Vice President of Strategy and Planning
Refuel Agency

11:30 a.m. Wrap Up, Closing Remarks, and Conference Adjourns

Speaker
James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

Meeting Room Information

Registration, Breakfast, and Breaks – Aqualea Ballroom Pre-Function

Board Meeting – Siesta Key Room

General Sessions – Aqualea Ballroom

Welcoming Reception and Lunch – Belleair Room and Terrace

Small Group Breakout Sessions –
Federal Family Education Loan Program Participants – Madeira Room
Private Lending – Siesta Key Room

Hotel Map

Speaker Biographies

Dr. Beth Akers, Senior Fellow
American Enterprise Institute

Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Akers is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on the economics of higher education. Before joining AEI, she worked as a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a visiting research scholar at the Federal Reserve Board, a Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a Staff Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush. Beth is the author of Making College Pay: An Economist Explains How to Make a Smart Bet on Higher Education (Penguin Random House, 2021). She is also the coauthor of Game of Loans: The Rhetoric and Reality of Student Debt (Princeton University Press, 2016) and the coauthor of the chapter “Understanding Changes in the Distribution of Student Loan Debt over Time” in Student Loans and the Dynamics of Debt (Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2015). In addition to testifying before Congress, her writing and research have been published or featured in many news publications. These include Bloomberg Opinion, the Boston Globe, Education Next, New York Daily News, New York Post, Newsweek, Quartz, Time, The Hill, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Her broadcast appearances include ABC News, Bloomberg Television, C-SPAN, and CNBC. Beth has a PhD in economics from Columbia University and a BS in mathematics and economics from the State University of New York at Albany.

Bill Ayers, Head of Campus Development
College Ave Student Loans

Bill Ayers is currently the Head of Campus Development at College Ave Student Loans. His experience in higher education finance includes previous management positions at Sallie Mae and JP Morgan Chase. With College Ave, he manages relationships with higher education institutions and financial affinity groups across the country. Bill also manages the sharing of analytics and reporting of consumer credit with the higher education community. This role provides the opportunity to give credit education and financial awareness presentations to community, student, and industry organizations.

Diana Barber, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation

Diana Barber is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) and its sister organization the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation (KHESCL). Prior to her current position, she served as Interim Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director and as Assistant General Counsel for KHEAA/KHESLC. Before coming to KHEAA/KHESLC, Diana worked for the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund. She received her J.D. from the University of Kentucky and a B.A in Economics from Indiana University.

James P. Bergeron, President
National Council of Higher Education Resources

James Bergeron currently serves as President of the National Council of Higher Education Resources. Prior to joining NCHER, James worked as the Director of Education and Human Services Policy for the House Education and the Workforce Committee. In this capacity, he advised Chairman John Kline (R-MN), 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 Rep. Buck McKeon’s (R-CA) 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 more than 25 years ago as a Legislative Assistant to former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-LA), 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 received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

John Culhane, Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP

John L. Culhane, Jr. is a Partner at Ballard Spahr LLP where he is known for his work advising on interstate direct and indirect consumer and residential mortgage loan and leasing programs, through both traditional brick-and-mortar facilities and e-commerce. Before joining Ballard Spahr, John was Associate Counsel with Mellon Bank, N.A.; Associate Counsel with Bank of America NT&SA; and Senior Attorney (section chief) with the National Credit Union Administration, the federal agency regulating federal credit unions. John addresses issues involving licensing, advertising and marketing, application processing, privacy, disclosure, pricing, substantive terms, servicing, collection, portfolio sales, and securitization. His regulatory practice includes preparing clients for banking agency and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) compliance examinations and assisting in the defense of attorney general investigations and banking agency and CFPB enforcement actions. His clients have ranged from a multibillion-dollar bank holding company, to one of the nation’s largest residential mortgage lenders, to a leading provider of financial institution forms and documentation. John is a member of the firm’s Fair Lending Task Force.

John Falb, Chief Executive Officer
Enterval Analytics LLC

John Falb is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Enterval Analytics. With 22 years of experience in higher education and capital markets, he has led the structuring and modeling of over $20 billion in debt and equity. He founded Enterval to provide top-tier research, tools, and insights for the private student loan market. Enterval’s dedicated team of seasoned professionals specializes in data analysis, finance, student loan portfolio management, higher education policy, and public and government relations, making the company uniquely positioned to deliver reporting and software tool solutions focused on the higher education space.

Ron Gambill, Executive Vice President
Education Loan Finance, Inc. (ELFI)

Ron Gambill is Executive Vice President for Student Lending and Legislative Affairs of Education Loan Finance, Inc. (ELFI). Formerly, Ron was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Educational Funding of the South, Inc. (Edsouth), serving as a Director on the Edsouth Board since 1988. Prior to joining Edsouth, he was Executive Director of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) for over 17 years and served as a financial aid director for Nashville State Technical Institute for over 11 years before his appointment to TSAC. Ron is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Higher Education Resources where he has served for several terms including Chairman of the Board. He has served on the Executive Board of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators in various positions and is currently a member of the Legislative Relations Committee. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and is a member and Past President of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University, where he serves on the Board of Visitors for the Education Department. He holds a Master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, and serves as a Trustee on the Board of Williamson College. Ron has worked in state and federal legislative relations for over 30 years.

Pasquale Giordano, Senior Director, Structured Finance
Fitch Ratings

Pasquale Giordano is a Senior Director at Fitch Ratings’ North American Structured Finance ABS group in New York, which he joined in 2017. Pasquale leads Fitch’s private student loan ABS group and covers other Consumer ABS asset classes, including marketplace lending, auto loan ABS, and FFELP student loan ABS. Prior to this role, Pasquale spent five years in Fitch’s European Structured Finance group in Milan, Italy, where he covered ABS, RMBS, CLO-CDOs as well as securitizations of non-performing loans. Before joining Fitch Ratings, he worked at UniCredit’s investment banking division in the Leveraged Finance Group. Pasquale holds a master’s degree in Finance from Luigi Bocconi University in Milan and is a CFA charter holder.

Alicia Keaton, Interim Associate Vice President, Enrollment Planning and Management, Division of Student Success and Wellbeing
University of Central Florida

Alicia Keaton is a seasoned professional in the field of higher education, with over 30 years of experience primarily in financial aid. She embarked on her academic journey by earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University, followed by an MBA from Wayne State University.

Originally hailing from the state of Michigan, Alicia’s career in higher education began at Wayne State University, where she laid the foundation for her future endeavors. She later expanded her horizons, working at the University of Florida before joining the University of Central Florida (UCF) as the Financial Aid Director. In January 2023, Alicia transitioned to the role of Interim Associate Vice President for Enrollment Planning and Management at UCF, assuming responsibility for key departments including the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Student Financial Assistance, and the Registrar Office, as well as enrollment planning for the university.

Throughout her career, Alicia has been actively engaged in various university committees, playing vital roles in initiatives such as compliance and ethics, student retention, first-generation advisory board, and enrollment management. She has also contributed her expertise to state, regional, and national associations. Her life philosophy is a quote from her late father, “Leave a place better than you found it. It will serve as your legacy.” This guiding life philosophy reflects her commitment to leaving a positive impact wherever she goes.

Mike Kilgarriff, Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP

Mike Kilgarriff is a partner in the Denver office of Ballard Spahr LLP. He is a high-stakes litigator with extensive experience in government and administrative agency matters, complex commercial litigation, and regulatory compliance issues. He focuses his practice on state attorneys general investigations and litigation, including multistate enforcement actions. Mike represents companies in all phases of disputes, including civil investigative demands, responses to government requests for information, agency audits, and litigation in both state and federal court. He handles a variety of government investigations, enforcement matters, and regulatory compliance issues. He guides clients through government investigations brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and many other regulatory and enforcement agencies. Mike recently moved to Ballard Spahr after spending nearly 10 years at an international law firm in Washington, DC.

Phil Kinman, Director of Compliance
Higher Education Servicing Corporation

Phil Kinman is the Director of Compliance at Higher Education Servicing Corporation (HESC), a Texas based non-profit. He is responsible for Internal Audit and all aspects of compliance for HESC in lending and servicing FFELP and private loans. Phil has been on the Board of Directors for the Student Loan Servicing Alliance (SLSA) since 2014 and has also served on several industry workgroups and committees formed by SLSA, Education Finance Council, and NCHER such as Program Regulations, Income Based Repayment, State Law, and Alternative Education Loans. Phil has worked within the student loan servicing industry, for multiple organizations, over the past 24 years.

Kelly Lipinski, Member
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC

Kelly Lipinski’s practice at McGlinchey Stafford focuses on compliance and regulatory matters involving the consumer financial industry. She regularly advises depository institutions and their affiliates, mortgage companies, sales finance companies, and education lenders on federal and state consumer finance issues. Kelly has experience with the Truth in Lending Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. She also has experience with state compliance issues and frequently represents clients before state regulatory agencies, concerning licensing and examination issues. She received a B.A. in economics a B.S. in management from Case Western Reserve University and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Sean McTighe, Executive Director, Title IV Compliance and Data Intake Operations, National Student Clearinghouse

Sean McTighe is the Executive Director, Title IV Compliance and Data Intake Operations, at the National Student Clearinghouse. He has been with the Clearinghouse for 13 years and oversees the Clearinghouse’s Data Excellence, Data Integrity and Operations, and Audit Resource Center teams responsible for ensuring timely and accurate compliance reporting for 3,600+ participating colleges and universities. In addition, Sean’s teams serve the student loan community, including student loan lenders, servicers, and guarantors by providing and enhancing services related to the timely and accurate exchange of education data.

Sean works with Federal Student Aid, the National Student Loan Data System, the Clearinghouse’s external advisory committees, and the Financial Aid Services Application Development team to continuously improve the organization’s existing services and ensure their applications meet the ever-evolving regulatory standards and guidance issued by the Department of Education. Prior to his current position, he managed the StudentTracker Operations team for the Clearinghouse, and held various leadership positions in higher education and finance. He is passionate about all facets of the data managed by the Clearinghouse, including its lifecycle, integrity, and versatility. He thoroughly enjoys coaching and working with his team, collaborating cross-organizationally, and he gets great satisfaction from sitting in the compliance pressure-cooker.

Ian P. Moloney, Senior Vice President, Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs
American Fintech Council

Ian P. Moloney is Senior Vice President, Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for the American Fintech Council (AFC) where he is responsible for leading the association’s policy strategy across the fintech ecosystem. Prior to AFC, Ian was Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Cross River where he was responsible for leading the bank’s regulatory strategy, focusing on fintech and traditional banking regulations, and representing the bank as a regulatory expert to direct Cross River’s public policy objectives and positions to engage effectively with key federal and state regulators and policymakers. Ian was also previously with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington D.C. as a Senior Analyst of Financial Markets and Community Investment, where he worked on fintech, small business lending, and digital identity issues. He has been involved in the fintech space since 2017 and has published multiple reports on fintech topics, both domestically and internationally. Ian has written on fintech issues for the Federation of American Scientists, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, and the United Nations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, History, and Philosophy with an Ethics Minor from Central Michigan University. Ian also has an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Kimberly Lent Morales, Director of Research and Evaluation
Helios Education Foundation

As Director of Research and Evaluation for the Helios Education Foundation, Kimberly Lent Morales works closely with foundation grantees to learn from community investments to maximize student success. Prior to Helios, Kimberly was Assistant Director for Research and Policy at the Florida College Access Network (FCAN), where she provided data and advocacy technical assistance and support for local college access networks and various FCAN partners across the state. She was seen by her colleagues at FCAN to be instrumental to that organization’s success in advocacy and policy. Kimberly worked at FCAN for more than five years, including as a senior research associate, focusing on K-12 and higher education data and policy analysis. Before FCAN, she served as Senior Social and Behavioral Researcher and Research Coordinator for the University of South Florida/The Villages Health Partnership. She also has served as Graduate Research Assistant at Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence at University of South Florida. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in public health and is earning a doctorate in curriculum and instruction, with emphasis in measurement and evaluation, from the University of South Florida.

Dr. Justin Ortagus, Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration and Policy and Director of the Institute of Higher Education
University of Florida

Justin C. Ortagus is an Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration and Policy and Director of the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida. His research typically examines how online education, community colleges, and state policies impact the opportunities and outcomes of underserved students. Justin has published research in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, the American Educational Research Journal, Educational Researcher, the Journal of Higher Education, and Research in Higher Education. He has testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor on the role and influence of need-based financial aid for low-income students. His work and expertise have also been featured in USA Today, NBC News, Forbes, Business Insider, and other outlets.

Jimmy Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer
Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Foundation

Jimmy Parker has worked with Panhandle-Plains for 21 years and currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Foundation (PPHEF). Prior to the conversion to a Foundation, he served as Executive Director of Panhandle-Plains Higher Education Authority (PPHEA) as well as Executive Director of Panhandle-Plains Student Finance Corporation (PPSFC) and President of Panhandle-Plains Management and Servicing Corporation (PPMSC) since January 2011. Jimmy previously served as Executive Vice President for Secondary Market Operations of PPMSC with his main focus on government relations, lender/school relations, and managing the daily activities of PPHEA and PPSFC.

Prior to joining Panhandle-Plains, Jimmy spent 23 years in financial aid administration at institutions of higher education with four years as Director of Financial Aid at Western Texas College and 16 years at Angelo State University as Assistant Director of Financial Aid for 2 years and Director of Financial Aid for 14 years. During this time, he was active in the Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA) and served on numerous committee’s as well as TASFAA President in the 1990-1991 year. He was elected to the TASFAA Hall of Fame in the 2005-2006 year. He currently serves as a Board Member of the National Council of Higher Education Resources and was Chair of the Board of Directors during the 2014-15 year.

Dr. Paul Perrault, Senior Vice President, Community Impact and Learning
Helios Education Foundation

Dr. Paul G. Perrault is Senior Vice President, Community Impact and Learning for Helios Education Foundation. In this capacity, he is charged with leading the development of the Foundation’s research and evaluation agenda and in managing Helios’ grants and project management team. Paul comes to Helios with more than 20 years of research and evaluation experience. Prior to joining Helios, he was a researcher at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, where he served as a lead investigator on Arizona’s Move On When Ready evaluation and as principal investigator on Yuma’s Ready Now Yuma evaluation. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Foundations and Policy with a specialization in research methodology at the University of Michigan along with a JD at the University of Detroit Mercy and a BA in Journalism at Michigan State University. Paul currently serves on the Leadership Council for the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. In addition, he serves as a Council Member for Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy and is an alum of Valley Leadership – Class 40.

Leela Ramdeen, Vice President of Strategy and Planning
Refuel Agency

Leela Ramdeen currently serves as Vice President of Strategy and Planning for Refuel Agency, a leading media and marketing agency that connects campaigns with niche audiences such as Gen Z, teens, college students, and multicultural markets including Hispanic, Asians, and African Americans. For the past 20 years, Leela has worked with global fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations in the tech, telecom, retail, luxury, travel, financial services, and automotive industries. She has a proven track record of success, with campaigns that earned Cannes, Jay Chiat, and Effies awards. Her forte is developing and executing end-to-end brand and product marketing plans, as well as leading high-performing teams.

Carlos Sanchez, PhD, Senior Advisor, Global Fraud Solutions
TransUnion

Dr. Carlos Sanchez has dedicated over 15 years to combating fraud, safeguarding both private and public entities. Throughout his accomplished career, he has held pivotal roles at leading companies including Microsoft, HP, Nortel, AT&T, and Verizon. Currently, he serves as a Global Senior Technical Advisor for TransUnion, where he specializes in device fraud detection and omnichannel authentication. Carlos’s expertise spans cybersecurity, fraud detection, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and resides in Atlanta, GA.

Joseph A. Santoro, Director and Team Leader, Education Finance
BofA Securities

Joe Santoro is head of the Education Finance Investment Banking team at BofA Securities. He began his student loan finance investment banking career with UBS PaineWebber in 1999 assisting in the preparation of loan portfolio valuations, cash flow projections, and pricing analyses. Since then, he has helped clients create new loan programs and completed numerous financings for dozens of education loan programs, many of which incorporated innovative financing strategies and securities. In the last several years, Joe has helped clients evaluate and execute restructurings and move forward with new opportunities – including the structuring and financing of private student, parent, and education refinance loan programs.

Following completion of his Bachelors of Engineering degree in 1988, Joe worked in construction management and infrastructure engineering with Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. During this time, he obtained his Masters of Engineering degree and worked in various short and long term projects with increasing responsibility. He then moved to HDR while completing an MBA degree. In the late ’90s, Joe was a consultant in HDR’s Municipal Advocacy Group where he advised clients faced with the threat or opportunity of privatization.

Joe holds a Bachelor and Master of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from NYU Stern.

Vicki Shipley, Senior Advisor
National Council of Higher Education Resources

Vicki Shipley is a Senior Advisor to the National Council of Higher Education Resources. A 45-year veteran of higher education finance experience, Vicki is staff liaison to many of NCHER’s committees and caucuses with a focus on policy development and implementation, compliance, and 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.

Dave Sobush, CEcD, Director of Research and Policy
Florida College Access Network

Dave Sobush serves as the Director of Research and Policy for the Florida College Access Network (FCAN). He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with over 20 years of research and policy experience in economic, community, and workforce development. In his role, he leverages a career of data analysis, planning and reporting, coordination with outside agencies, project management, management of outside consultants, and development and implementation of recommendations to increase post-secondary education access and student success. Prior to joining FCAN in August 2023, Dave held research and leadership positions at the Florida Chamber Foundation, Tampa Bay Partnership, Hillsborough County Economic Development, the City of St. Petersburg Economic Development Department and as a faculty member of the University of South Florida’s Center for Economic Development Research. Dave’s economic development experience teaches that true

economic development occurs only when residents are prosperous.

David Tallman, Member
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC

With twenty years’ experience in consumer financial services regulatory compliance, David Tallman regularly advises student lenders and servicers on the requirements of federal and state lending and servicing laws at McGlinchey Stafford. Clients turn to David because he understands how to navigate complex and ambiguous legal requirements. He has conducted enterprise-wide Consumer Financial Protection Bureau readiness reviews to evaluate clients’ compliance management programs and assess their regulatory risks. David also performs due diligence and provides litigation support for transactions and disputes relating to consumer financial products and service and helps clients to develop e-commerce platforms to facilitate the electronic delivery of financial services.

Dino Tsibouris, Partner
Tsibouris & Associates, LLC

Dino Tsibouris is the Founding Principal of the law firm Tsibouris & Associates, LLC. His practice concentrates in the area of technology and intellectual property law with specific expertise in electronic commerce, online financial services, software licensing, Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”), and privacy law. In addition, Dino’s practice includes the implementation of electronic signatures, records management, and information security. He was previously an attorney with Thompson Hine LLP and a Vice President and Counsel for eCommerce and Technology at Bank One Corporation (now JPMorgan Chase). Dino has conducted CLE and trade association presentations on various e-Banking and eCommerce matters and participated in many regulatory and industry task forces addressing new legislation.

Jack Wallace, Director of Lender and Public Affairs
Yrefy, LLC

For over 42 years, Jack Wallace has worked with clients and the financial community to develop funding sources to finance federal and private student loans. As an investment banker, financial advisor, and corporate finance executive, he has completed over $13 billion in financing. During his career, he has served as Financial Advisor to the U.S. Department of Education under Presidents Reagan, Bush 41, and Clinton. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down the Biden Administration’s Federal student loan forgiveness program last June, Jack has appeared on over 300 TV and radio shows around the country, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and NPR News, and has been quoted on Bloomberg, in the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, and in multiple USA Today and Wall Street Journal articles, discussing federal student loan forgiveness, as well as the impact of millions of federal student loan, and private student loan borrowers going back into repayment. In the last five months, he has also appeared discussing the “issues” related to the new FAFSA form release since its launch on December 31, 2023. Jack is a graduate of Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (Public Administration).

Save the Date

NCHER Fall Legal Meeting
October 2024 at the law offices of
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in Chicago, IL

NCHER Legislative and Leadership Meeting
February 3 – 5, 2025 in Washington, DC

Membership Meeting Materials

Click the button below to view or download a PDF of the complete set of materials for the NCHER Membership Meeting to be held Monday afternoon at 3:30 pm.

View/Download

Downloadable Program

Click the button below to view or download a PDF of the complete Conference Program, including general information about the conference, daily agenda, hotel map, speaker biographies, sponsors information, conference attendees list, and more!

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2024 Annual Conference Program

Program

Welcome to Clearwater