Welcome to OASFAA!

A Letter from the President

Greeting OASFAA members!

While the last few months since we have seen each other have been a whirlwind, I am very thankful for each of you and the organization we all work so hard to represent. The annual conference was a great success, we had over 100 attendees and our Co-chairs and the committee worked very hard to make the event special. It was truly a time to reflect on the ship that will carry us on the trip we are about to embark on for the 24/25 FAFSA.

As you all saw, the Feds plan to release the 24/25 FAFSA sometime in December. While not great timing, we are going to have to rely on each other for support and training. That’s my favorite part of this amazing organization, the membership and the relationships we have built over time.  That ship is OASFAA and it is powered by each and every one of you! I couldn’t ask for a better group to take this trip with.

Twenty-four hours after the OASFAA conference ended, your President-elect, Karen Ash, and I set off on a trip to our nation’s Capital for the NASFAA Leadership and Legislative Conference. While the sessions were powerful and we were able to meet some great people, my favorite part of our trip was our visit to Capitol Hill. As we walked past monuments and memorials that have stood the test of time, it gave me great hope in our system and in our country. And while we feel powerless at times, we can continue to fight for change and progress as an organization.   

Between Karen Ash, Ashley Coleman, and me, we were able to set meetings with Senators Wyden and Merkley’s offices and meet in person with Congresswomen Andrea Salinas. All of the office staffers were very receptive to our initiatives and we could tell they were genuine in taking our issues to the Senators. Meeting in person with the Congresswomen was an amazing experience, she was very attentive and took notes on each of our concerns for access and affordability for students in Oregon and our country. It was right there in that office that, while I was voluntold to run for OASFAA President, I realized how amazing this role really is. To be able to meet with our State Senators and advocate for Higher Education is an honor. It showed me that we really do have the ability to make a difference. I joked with Karen on the plane ride home, after OASFAA President, the next stop is Washington DC as a Congressmen.

I am looking forward to the year to come! I want to thank Lois for her leadership and for pushing our Strategic plan forward. I am excited about the progress we are going to make in enacting all of the goals we have set for the organization over the next several years. I am excited about the work our committees have done and continue to do and looking forward to the training activities OASFAA has in store for us.

As always, if you have thoughts or suggestions, or just want to chat, please feel free to reach out to me and our executive council. We want OASFAA to work for all of us, anything we can do for you or your school, we will do our best to make it happen.

And don’t forget to volunteer, even if it is something small, every little bit helps in keeping this organization going strong!

Keep up the good work and don’t lose sight of the work you all do, every single bit of it matters!

Carlos Villarroel, 2023-2024 OASFAA President