Bartlett resident to serve as president of state student financial aid association

Michelle Stipp, director of financial aid at Roosevelt University, is the new president of the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA), effective immediately.

A 20-year financial aid professional, Stipp has presided over the merging of key student account functions and financial aid services at Roosevelt, where the focus is on providing the best hands-on service to students.

A resident of Bartlett, Illinois, Roosevelt's financial aid director was elected by her colleagues to lead the 445-member ILASFAA. Advocating for the ethical administration of student aid, training and advocacy, the association represents financial aid administrators from public and private higher education institutions, community colleges, for-profit institutions, private loan lenders, guarantee agencies and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"These are challenging times in student financial aid and I look forward to leading our state's financial aid professionals as we advocate for our students and their families," she said.

At a time when students are seeking more financial support and institutional resources are being stretched, Stipp believes it is more important than ever for financial aid administrators to both be creative and strategic in their approach to the financial aid process. ILASFAA provides opportunities for financial aid professionals to collaborate and share ideas as well as best practices to meet this challenge.

"I am humbled and honored to serve as president of our state association and look forward to the coming year."

Stipp also serves on the board of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, representing professionals in Illinois for the nine-state regional association.