Highlights of the 2006 American Student Assistance Symposium
This year saw ASA’s most successful symposium ever. The event, coinciding with ASA’s 50th Anniversary, was hosted in Boston and drew a record crowd of 375 attendees. Financial aid professionals from the world over gathered for the two-day event. This year’s theme: Insights: A Conversation on Student Debt, looked squarely at how debt is impacting the college and career choices of today's students. Featured speakers included:
- – Juan Williams: National political correspondent, author and senior correspondent for NPR’s Morning Show
- – Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D.: Economist, author, civic leader, commentator and president and CEO of Last Word Productions
- – Margaret A. McKenna, Ph.D., President of Lesley University
- – The Student Debt Dilemma (ppt, 4.486 MB) (plus handout) (doc, 47 KB) with Robert Shireman, President and founder of TICAS (The Institute for College Access and Success)
- – How Much Debt Is Too Much (ppt, 193 KB) with Sandy Baum, Senior Policy Analyst at the College Board and Professor of Economics at Skidmore College
- – Washington Update (ppt, 199 KB) with Harrison Wadsworth, Principal, Washington Partners, LLC
- – Implementing Financial Literacy Education in and Outside the Classroom (ppt, 99 KB) with Glenda Palmer, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Student Services, Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University, and Charles Pruett, III, J.D. Director of Financial Aid at Georgetown Law School (link to Implementing Financial Literacy Educatino)
- – The Impact of Student Debt on Alumni Giving (ppt, 3.586 MB) with Dr. Margaret Platt Jendrek and Dr. Jean Lynch, Professors, Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University in Ohio
- – Tamara Draut, author of Strapped: Why America’s 20- and 30-Something Can't Get Ahead, and Anya Kamanetz, author of Generation Debt: Why Now Is a Terrible Time to Be Young
“Making a Difference” Awards
In honor of American Student Assistance's 50th anniversary, this year we handed out special “Making a Difference” awards to four outstanding individuals who have signficantly advanced the financial aid industry:
- – Ann S. Coles, Ph.D.: Senior Vice President for College Access Programs, and Director of Pathways to College Network at TERI (The Education Resources Institute)
- – Arnold Mitchem, Ph.D.: President of the Council for Opportunity in Education
- – Natala “Tally” Hart, Director of Student Financial Aid at The Ohio State University
- – Debra Wiley, Ombudsman for Federal Student Aid at the U.S. Department of Education
Roundtable Discussions
One of the things that sets ASA's symposium apart from other conference events is the opportunity attendees have to take part in roundtable discussions on important issues facing the higher education financing industry today. This year our roundtables focused on:
- – Direct to Consumer Marketing
- – The Price Tag of Higher Education
- – Counseling Graduate and Professional Students and Families on Debt
- – Your Financial Aid Wishlist
Entertainment
The State Room Dinner was another highlight of the symposium; the enthusiastic crowd enjoyed great food, conversation and dancing, all with the spectacular view overlooking Boston Harbor.
Our Thanks
ASA would like to thank the many sponsors who contributed generously to this event and helped to make it the best symposium yet:
Platinum Sponsors:
Citizens Bank and MEFA
Gold Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
Bronze Sponsors:
Bank of America, Chase Education Finance Corporation, Citibank, College Loan Corporation, College PayWay, Nellie Mae, NextStudent, Student Loan Xpress, and Student Capital Corporation.
