Candidate for SASFAA Vice President
Deborah “Tolly” Tollefson

Candidate Statement
It is an honor and pleasure to be nominated by my peers for Vice President of SASFAA.

SASFAA is known as a strong and innovative association and it has been a pleasure to be a member for the past 16 years. If elected I would work diligently to maintain and enhance this reputation. I am committed to the on-going work of the association and am ready and able to commit my time and resources.

I started my career in financial aid in 1984 as a Graduate Assistant/Counselor at Oregon State University. Since then I have done most everything that can be done in a Financial Aid Office and I still enjoy the profession. One of the things I learned early in my career is how supportive and collaborative financial aid professionals are and I always strive to meet the high standard of ethics, compassion and fellowship in our community.

The past nine years I have served as Director of Financial Aid at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. For the last three years I have been active in SASFAA as an instructor in the New Aid Officers Workshop and am currently the curriculum coordinator for the 2005 New Aid Officers Workshop. I have presented at SASFAA, NCASFAA, NCHELP and SCT Banner Summit conferences.

My three summers as an instructor and my current position as curriculum coordinator have reinforced my commitment as an experienced financial aid administrator to serve our profession by fostering and mentoring those new to the profession. There is no college curriculum or degree in financial aid The only way those new to our profession can learn is if we share our knowledge and experience.

As an instructor at the New Aid Officers Workshop my responsibilities were primarily teaching and working with participants. As curriculum coordinator I am now learning the details of organizing and setting up the workshop. I have made site visits, read contracts, worked on schedules and developed budgets, as well as, developing the curriculum for both the week long summer workshop and the one day workshop at the annual SASFAA Conference. It is this progressive experience with the New Aid Officers workshop that makes me feel qualified to run for this office.

Should I be elected as the next SASFAA Vice President, I will bring my experience, enthusiasm and leadership to the position. I promise I will continue the proud SASFAA tradition of providing quality training to our new colleagues in the field.