2026 masfaa MINI CONFERENCE

Thank you for registering for the MASFAA Mini Conference! Below you will see a list of all sessions. To register for each session, please complete the form that was included in your registration confirmation email. After the conference, each session recording and hand-outs (when available) will be included on this page and available for up to one year.

If you have any questions, or need help accessing the registration form, please contact the Professional Development and Advocacy Committee at masfaamatters@masfaaweb.org.  

Session 1: AI in Student Services

When: Monday, July 20 at 9-10am CT/10-11am ET

This introductory session provides a practical overview of artificial intelligence and its growing role in higher education, financial aid, and student services. Participants will learn what AI is, how generative AI tools work at a basic level, where AI can support office work, and what risks must be managed before using AI in student-facing or compliance-sensitive contexts.

Presenter: Dr. Chris Prokes, Director of the AI Excellence Institute, Sinclair Community College

Session 2: AI in Action- Practical Tools for Training, Procedures, and Customer Service in Financial Aid

When: Tuesday, July 21 at 10am CT/11am-12pm ET

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming a practical tool for financial aid offices, not to replace staff, but to support efficiency, consistency, and student service. This session will highlight real-world ways AI can be integrated into daily operations, including staff training, procedure development, and customer communication. Presenters will share practical examples of how AI tools can assist with creating and maintaining policies and procedures, developing training resources, improving customer service responses, and organizing institutional knowledge. The session will also discuss strategies for introducing AI within your office, addressing concerns, and gaining staff buy-in while maintaining compliance, professionalism, and the human connection students value.

Presenters:  Charlie Castline, Director of Financial Aid Systems, University of Notre Dame; Dr. Michele Logue, Associate Director of Student Support Services, University of Missouri - Kansas City; Jacob Severn, Learning and Development Specialist, Iowa State University

Session 3: AI & Fraud - A Conversation with FSA

When: Wednesday, July 22 at 2-3pm CT/3-4pm ET

This session will share information about how FSA incorporated AI to expand their fraud detection within the FAFSA and learn about opportunities to leverage AI on campus in your fraud detection efforts.

Presenter: Aaron Lemon-Strauss, FAFSA Program Executive Director, Federal Student Aid

Session 4: AI: Enhancing Financial Aid Support

When: Thursday, July 23 at 9-10am CT/10-11am ET

Learn how DePaul University's Financial Aid Office utilized Salesforce Agentforce Agentic AI to develop a tool that empowers financial aid counselors and staff. This innovative solution enhances student interactions by integrating student data, action items, knowledge search, and communication tools.

Presenters: Justin Johnson, Senior Systems Analyst, DePaul University; Karen LeVeque-Szawara,  Assistant Vice President - Financial Aid, DePaul University

Session 5: Findings from the NASFAA Taskforce on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Financial Aid Office

When: Friday, July 24, time TBD

Members from NASFAA's Taskforce will share the findings from their year-long work around AI in the financial aid office and offer practical takeaways for institutions to incorporate into their daily work.

Presenters: Samantha Hicks (Task Force Chair), Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid and Scholarship, Task, Coastal Carolina University; Charlotte Etier, Director of Research and Grants, NASFAA; Carly Blagg, Student Financial Services Coordinator, Southeast Missouri State University

Session 6: AI in Practice

When: Friday, July 24 at 1-2pm CT/2-3PM ET

This applied session helps participants move from understanding AI to using it thoughtfully and effectively. Through practical demonstrations and guided scenarios, participants will learn how to structure prompts, refine AI outputs, evaluate responses, and identify appropriate use cases in financial aid and student services. The session emphasizes responsible use, human oversight, and practical workflows that can support communication, training, documentation, and process improvement.

Presenter: Dr. Chris Prokes, Director of the AI Excellence Institute, Sinclair Community College