2026 New Aid Officers Workshop (NAOW)

Registration Opening Soon!

WHEN: Wednesday April 8 - Friday April 10, 2026

WHERE: Great Wolf Lodge 100 Great Wolf Dr, Grapevine, TX 76051

New Aid Officers Workshop (NAOW) is a safe learning space where new financial aid staff or even seasoned financial officers will gain invaluable knowledge and refresh their minds.

Get ready to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast at the returning TASFAA New Aid Officer’s Workshop, a Survivor-inspired experience reflecting the real challenges and rewards of financial aid work. Through interactive sessions, team challenges, and engaging discussions, you’ll sharpen your knowledge while building alliances with peers from across the state. Rather than eliminating players, this workshop celebrates collective strength, shared problem-solving, and mutual support. Together, we’ll navigate the evolving financial aid landscape and emerge stronger, more confident, and better equipped to serve our students.

 

Topics Covered

  • Application Process and Student Eligibility
  • Verification
  • Need Analysis and Pell Grant (including Calculating SAI)
  • Cost of Attendance
  • State Financial Aid
  • Packaging and Aid Notifications
  • Professional Judgment
  • Campus-Based Programs
  • Loans
  • R2T4
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Lodging

Attendees must make their own hotel reservations by March 16, 2026. Per hotel policy, guests must be over the age of 21 to check in to their guest rooms.

Reservations can be made by calling 800-693-9653 or visiting www.greatwolf.com/grapevine using the offer code 2604TASF

Using this code will will attendees them a Family Suite at the wonderfully reduced price of $144.99 a night. Each Family Suite includes 4 water park wristbands. Attendees can also commute daily and enjoy free parking at the conference center. Water Park access is limited to those staying at the hotel.

Agenda

Check in for training will open at 8:00am on Wednesday, April 8th. Training will begin promptly at 9:00 am. Training will conclude at noon on Friday, April 11th. The Registration cost includes the cost for materials, lunch and refreshments on Wednesday, breakfast, lunch and refreshments on Thursday and breakfast on Friday. Full agenda will be available soon!

Financial Assistance

The Mack C. Adams scholarship will be available to assist with the cost of registration for New Aid Officers Workshop. Click here to check for application availability.

Registration

The registration form will be available soon! If you are your institution's designated Key Contact, you will see two buttons: [Register Yourself] and [Register a Linked Profile]. If you are registering someone else, choose [Register Linked Profile]. The list of linked profiles will appear on the next page. If the person you wish to add is not on that page, you must add them to your organizational profile first before they will appear here.

 

Training Committee

2026 Training Committee / Presenters

Erin Dunham - Chair

Erin has been serving as a Financial Aid Advisor at San Jacinto College for the past three years. In this role, she assists students with the financial aid process and helps them navigate crucial components such as FAFSA completion, verification processes, and financial aid appeals. These appeals include Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals, Unusual Circumstances, and Special Circumstances. In addition to advising students, Erin plays an integral role in managing the Federal Work Study program for the campus, helping students gain valuable work experience while earning financial aid. Additionally, she serves on the training committee for Student Services, focusing on professional development for their team.

As a certified financial coach, Erin is committed to empowering students with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed financial decisions.

Erin earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Sam Houston State University. Their expertise is reflected in their achievement of several NASFAA credentials, including Student Eligibility, Application Process, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Campus-Based Programs, Direct Loan Program, Cost of Attendance, Federal Pell Grant, and Verification.

Daniel Warner - Vice Chair

Daniel Warner

Daniel Warner started his higher education career in 2014 as a student assistant where he first discovered his passion for education and helping college students. Daniel currently serves as a Financial Aid Advisor at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. He seeks to stay updated on financial aid changes and share that information with peers. His passion for learning drives his commitment to enhancing educational experiences and promoting psychological well-being among learners.

Daniel holds a master’s degree in human environmental sciences from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ohio University. He has earned the 16 available NASFAA credentials.