PRESENTERS
Under Secretary James Kvaal
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: Q&A with Under Secretary Kvaal
James Kvaal was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Under Secretary of Education on September 14, 2021. Kvaal leads the Department’s work on higher education, student financial aid, and career and adult education. He works to build an inclusive higher education system that helps all students graduate and go on to a better life. His work has led to millions of borrowers receiving student loan forgiveness, more affordable repayment plans for future students, and stronger safeguards against future unaffordable loans.
Earlier in his career, Kvaal served in the White House under President Clinton and President Obama, including more than three years as deputy domestic policy adviser to President Obama. He was the policy director on President Obama’s 2012 campaign, a co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign’s education advisory committee, and the deputy lead of President Biden’s Department of Education transition team.
Kvaal has also served as Deputy Under Secretary at the Department of Education and as a professional staff member in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Immediately prior to joining the Biden Administration, Kvaal was president of The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), a research and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to affordability and equity in higher education.
Kvaal taught at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy, and he graduated with honors from Stanford University and Harvard Law School.
Casi Benedict
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 2A: Plan, Prepare, Pay...A Three Prong Approach to College Attainment & Breakout Session 3A: Cracking the Communication Code
Casi Benedict, Director of Outreach Services, has been at Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority for 14 years. Starting as an Outreach Counselor in her home territory, Casi quickly discovered her passion for college access and knew she wanted to affect change, not only in her community, but also in the entire state of Kentucky. In 2021, Casi became Assistant Director of Outreach Services at KHEAA, and Director of Outreach shortly after that. She started her career in college admissions at her alma mater, Transylvania University. After working at the University of Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan College (in her hometown of Owensboro), she found her home at KHEAA. When she’s not working on building strong partnerships and brainstorming new initiatives to increase FAFSA completion and college attainment, she is hanging out with her four beautiful children, all age five and under.
Eddie Brambila
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 1B: Views from the Top: Two Successful State Approaches to FAFSA Completion
Eddie Brambila is the Managing Director of Capacity Development with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. He is responsible for overseeing and implementing strategies to enhance ISAC’s partners’ skills and capabilities in support of making college accessible and affordable for Illinois students. He plays a role in assessing training needs, designing and delivering training programs, and monitoring the effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives around college access in Illinois.
Alessandra Cipriani-Detres
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 3B: What do families hear when we say financial aid and FAFSA?
As NCAN’s Program Associate, Alessandra Cipriani-Detres supports and advances NCAN’s strong systems, policy, and advocacy work. She also helps strengthen NCAN’s partnerships across the country and identifies practices and policies that improve students’ postsecondary opportunities at scale.
Prior to joining NCAN, Cipriani-Detres served as an intern at Ithaka S+R where she researched and analyzed state legislation related to transcript withholding. During her time in graduate school, she also supported students completing social impact internships at MIT’s Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center as a Graduate Assistant. She discovered her passion for higher education policy while participating in a college affordability praxis lab at the University of Utah’s Honors College.
Cipriani-Detres holds a master’s degree in higher education from Boston College and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Utah. She lives in Washington, DC and enjoys trying new cuisines, hiking, and doing paint by numbers.
Mike Dean
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: Situating FAFSA within State College and Career Readiness Policies and Initiatives
Michael Dean is the Executive Director with Northstar Prosperity. Michael is a catalyst for change in Minnesota's higher education landscape. As the Executive Director of Northstar Prosperity, he is working to build an inclusive economy for all Minnesotans. Michael's extensive experience in higher education policy spanning over twenty years reflects his deep commitment to ensuring college affordability and accessibility for all Minnesotans.
Michael led an eight-year campaign to introduce Free College to Minnesota, ensuring that education remains accessible regardless of socioeconomic status. As the head of LeadMN, the statewide student association for community college students, he empowered students to discover their voices and enact significant policy reforms. During his tenure, LeadMN evolved into a formidable advocate at the state capitol, driving initiatives to address student basic needs, enhance student voting rights, and make college more affordable.
Before these roles, Michael contributed his expertise to the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities government relations teams, where he played a vital role in cultivating public support for higher education initiatives. Michael is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Bill DeBaun
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: A Wild Year in Review: The 2024-25 FAFSA and Where We Go From Here
Bill DeBaun is NCAN’s Senior Director, Data and Strategic Initiatives. In that role, he engages in policy research, data analysis, and resource development aimed at improving students’ college and career outcomes. DeBaun provides technical assistance around college access and success data usage, practice, and policy to community-based organizations, K-12 districts and schools, state agencies, and other key stakeholders. He currently co-leads the Postsecondary Pathways Project, which finds NCAN partnering with 15 state-level members to share resources and spur policy and practice changes.
DeBaun created and maintains the Form Your Future FAFSA Tracker, a nationally known project for tracking FAFSA completions at the national and state levels. Additionally, DeBaun leads NCAN’s Benchmarking Project, an on-going collaborative research effort with NCAN members that examines the enrollment and completion outcomes of students served by college access and success programs. Other activities include maintaining NCAN’s Data and Evaluation Toolkit and K-12 Resources Repository.
Previous projects at NCAN include the three-year To & Through Advising Challenge with districts and schools across the country and the Rural Student Success Initiative with 11 school districts in Texas. Prior to these, DeBaun oversaw the three-year Common Measures Learning Community, which convened 20 NCAN members in an effort to use data to improve program outcomes and scale program capacity.
Prior to joining NCAN, DeBaun was a policy and advocacy associate at the Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington, DC. DeBaun has a bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in education studies, from American University and a master’s degree in public policy from the George Washington University.
Jessie Greene
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 1A: Views from the Top: Two Successful State Approaches to FAFSA Completion and Breakout Session 3A: Cracking the Communication Code
Jessie Greene brings over a decade of experience in higher education to her role as Director of Communications at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), a position she has held since 2023. Prior to her current role, Jessie served as the Coordinator of College Access Communications at THEC, assisting with the recreation of the CollegeForTN.org website, the GEAR UP TN grant, and college access work across the state. Before joining THEC, she held positions in admissions at Cumberland University and Tennessee Tech University, where she most recently served as Assistant Director.
Throughout her career, Jessie has been dedicated to ensuring students have clear pathways to education beyond high school and supporting their success in their chosen endeavors. Her passion for higher education is evident in her work, where she strives to make a meaningful impact on students' lives.
Jessie currently resides in Watertown, TN, with her husband, Sam, and their two daughters, Josephine and Dorothy.
Daphne Hall
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 2B: Data Systems to Support Successful FAFSA Completion Initiatives
Daphne Hall serves as the Senior Vice President of College Access Programs at EducationQuest Foundation, where she leads initiatives aimed at facilitating college access for students across Nebraska. With over two decades of experience in college access, Ms. Hall is deeply committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals.
In her role, Ms. Hall oversees EducationQuest's college planning offices in Kearney, Lincoln, and Omaha, as well as the organization's statewide college planning services. She also spearheads college access efforts for middle schools and manages outreach services for community agencies statewide. Through these efforts, Ms. Hall works to provide students with the resources and support they need to navigate the college planning and funding process successfully.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Hall gained experience in the education sector, including over fifteen years as a regional marketing director in the student loan industry and in college admissions and financial aid. This diverse background has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing students as they pursue higher education.
Beyond her role at EducationQuest, Ms. Hall is actively involved in various educational organizations and initiatives. She serves on the Nebraska Wesleyan Board of Governors, where she has held positions on the Executive Committee, Academic Affairs Committee (chair), Student Affairs Committee, and Enrollment and Marketing Committees. Additionally, she is a former president of the University Alumni Council and a former board member of the Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska. Ms. Hall is also engaged in the TeamMates Mentoring Program, where she contributes her time and expertise to support student success.
Ms. Hall's dedication to educational excellence is evident in her involvement in professional associations such as the Nebraska Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the Nebraska School Counseling Association, the Nebraska Association of Collegiate Admissions and Registrars, and the National College Attainment Network. Through her active participation in these organizations, Ms. Hall remains at the forefront of best practices in college access and student support.
Ms. Hall earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Interpersonal Communication and Marketing from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb. Her academic background, coupled with her extensive professional experience, uniquely positions her to make a lasting impact on the lives of students and communities throughout Nebraska.
Kathy Hasting
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 3B: What do families hear when we say financial aid and FAFSA?
Kathy Hastings is the Director for Outreach and Communications with the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. In this role she helps mobilize partners around FAFSA completion and provides training and technical assistance to education stakeholders who are supporting the work. Prior to this role, Kathy led college access and FAFSA completion efforts with the Florida College Access Network. There, she grew participation to over 500 schools in 72% of the state’s districts by collaborating with a network of statewide partners, providing knowledge development through webinars and trainings, as well as providing technical assistance to school districts and community-based organizations. She was instrumental in the growth of 17 local cross-sector coalitions that supported 82% of the state’s population in advancing postsecondary access and completion.
Kathy earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Marketing from Southern Illinois University.
Jeneen Hatoum
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 2A: Plan, Prepare, Pay...A Three Prong Approach to College Attainment
As director of high school innovation, Jeneen works with schools and districts to strengthen systems and structures that lead to increased postsecondary attainment. Her responsibilities include leading school-based campaigns, grant-making, professional development, school counselor leadership development, and partnership development between K-12 and higher education institutions.
Jeneen brings valuable experience leading systemic innovation at both school and district levels, where her efforts resulted in significant improvements in the structure and practices within schools and a subsequent improvement in student outcomes. Jeneen's work as an assistant principal at a Chicago public high school led to some of the highest growth in college enrollment, scholarships awarded, and early college credential attainment in the city.
As a daughter of an immigrant parent, Jeneen has witnessed how postsecondary access can impact not only an individual, but can change trajectories for generations to follow. Through her college experiences, Jeneen has gained skills and relationships that have fostered her development as a professional. She earned a Bachelor of Arts at Michigan State University and a Master of Education in educational leadership and supervision from Loyola University. Jeneen is dedicated to supporting the college-going journeys of others and creating more equitable paths to postsecondary education.
Outside of work, Jeneen enjoys sketching and painting, as well as spending time in nature and with family.
MorraLee Keller
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: A Wild Year in Review: The 2024-25 FAFSA and Where We Go From Here
MorraLee Keller serves as Senior Director, Strategic Programming and provides professional development to both direct service providers and managers to help ensure the success and sustainability of new and existing college access programs. She offers consultation services with advice on governance issues, programming, data collection, research and best practices and also develops comprehensive training materials.
Keller has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in higher education administration, both from The Ohio State University (OSU). A former Financial Aid Coordinator at OSU, Keller has extensive experience in student financial aid. In her time at the Columbus, Ohio-based NCAN member program I KNOW I CAN, Keller developed a program with K-12 early college awareness programming and developed a comprehensive college advising program and last dollar grant program. Keller is the past president of NCAN and served as the treasurer of the board of directors of NCAN.
Angel Mcallister
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: State Spotlight: What worked to get this legislation passed?
Angel Mcallister is the State Director for Financial Aid with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
Kate Marling
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: State Spotlight: What worked to get this legislation passed?
Kate Marling is the Postsecondary Transitions Manager with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
Jacquelin Moreno
Session Presentation(s): Plenary Session: Situating FAFSA within State College and Career Readiness Policies and Initiatives
Jacqueline Moreno brings more than 30 years of experience to her position as the Chief Service Officer at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. In this role, she provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for the agency’s direct services to students, families, and partners across the state.
Brittany Pearce
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 1B: Adult Re-Engagement with FAFSA and Higher Education
Brittany Pearce is a program manager at Ithaka S+R on the Educational Transformation team. Her current work focuses on adult learner re-engagement, stranded credits and implementation of the Ohio College Comeback Compact. She spent more than a decade working on college campuses with a focus on creating equitable systems, policies, and processes for students seeking higher education with an emphasis on adult learners and transfer students. Brittany holds a Bachelor of Arts from Union University and a Master of Liberal Arts from Winthrop University, where her master’s thesis focused on academic fresh start programs for student veterans.
Keith Ritchie
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 2A: Plan, Prepare, Pay...A Three Prong Approach to College Attainment
Keith Ritchie is the Assistant Director of Outreach Services for Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). For 14 years, Keith has worked in college access and financial aid. Previously, Keith has served as the Northern Kentucky KHEAA Outreach counselor, Program Manager for the KHEAA Kentucky College Coaches, Education Programs Supervisor for Hamilton County Job and Family Services, and Financial Aid Counselor for Miami University. Keith graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2010, and received his master’s degree from Wright State University in 2012. He resides in Cincinnati with his wife, Ashley, and two daughters, Harper and Addison.
Karla Robles-Reyes
Session Presentation(s): Opening Plenary: Beyond FAFSA: Empowering Students Through the entire journey
Jason Seay
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 1A: Views form the Top: Two Successful State Approaches to FAFSA Completion
Nicole Whelan
Session Presentation(s): Breakout Session 1A: Views form the Top: Two Successful State Approaches to FAFSA Completion
Louisa Woodhouse
As a Policy Associate, Louisa Woodhouse supports the development and advancement of NCAN's policy priorities through research, advocacy, and relationship building. She works closely with a national network of stakeholders to advocate for policies and practices that improve the equity and accessibility of postsecondary opportunities across the country.
Prior to joining NCAN, Woodhouse served with multiple education-focused nonprofit organizations in the Boston area, including as a College Advisor with College Advising Corps (an NCAN member,) and as a Program Coordinator with English for New Bostonians. Most recently, she has supported policy research with New America’s higher education team, the Poverty and Inequality Research Lab at Johns Hopkins University, and the Education Policy Initiative at the University of Michigan. Her work explores public opinion of the value of postsecondary education and the efficacy of state and institutional financial aid interventions to improve postsecondary outcomes.
Woodhouse holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Bates College and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan. Outside of Washington, DC, she is preferably exploring the New England coastline or hiking the dunes of Lake Michigan.
Liz Yaddof
Liz is a Community Engagement Consultant with the Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Iowa College Aid. She serves as the program manager for the Virtual College Coach Program that connects high school and college students with college coaches as they navigate the college-going process. Additionally, she serves as the lead for FAFSA initiatives for the State of Iowa and supports the management of the bureau’s AmeriCorps grant. With almost 10 years in the higher education space, her goal is to assist students in realizing their postsecondary dreams and help remove the barriers that prevent students from pursuing education beyond high school. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her Masters of Public Administration from Arkansas State University.
Midwest FAFSA Summit
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