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