West Windsor, N.J. – Victoria Onori Bowman, M.A., a success coach and adjunct professor of English at Mercer County Community College (MCCC), has been selected by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) to participate on the Higher Education Committee of 50.

Known as the Forward50, the group is tasked with delivering policy recommendations to Congress related to college access, affordability, accountability, and transparency.

Bowman, who is serving on the Accessibility Subcommittee, said she appreciates the opportunity to have a voice in developing thoughtful and innovative ideas that will help students and their families navigate the higher education landscape.

The 50-member committee is comprised of college presidents, members of governing boards, enrollment managers, admissions staff, financial aid and bursar leaders, students, and other forward-thinking leaders from all sectors of postsecondary institutions. The 18-month project will culminate with practical solutions and recommendations for Congress and four white papers that will be available to the broader policy community for review and comment.

Bowman recently published an article on the Forward50 blog entitled “College Readiness and Small Conversations.” She says the article provides a glimpse into discussions about access that are taking place on her subcommittee. In her June 27th piece, she writes, "A factor that we’ve been discussing at length is college readiness. For me, readiness is not only defined as being academically ready, but emotionally, socially, and culturally ready…through many ‘small conversations,’ they [Bowman’s parents] were able to help me understand the importance and advantages of a higher education.” Read Bowman’s article here.

Bowman believes that her participation on the Forward50 will help her be even more effective at Mercer. “As both an educator and coach, I am extremely invested in the success of my students,” she said. “Keeping abreast of current issues and trends in higher education helps me to anticipate the needs of my students and guide them to take control of their education and overcome barriers for better outcomes and degree completion.”

Observes NASFAA President Justin Draeger, “Each member of the Forward50 brings with them a unique perspective and set of experiences, but as campus administrators, leaders, and students, each has a vested interest in making sure college is affordable and that students succeed in seeing their programs through to completion.”

He notes that committee members come from many different offices and have differing perspectives. “We’re confident that this group will come up with forward-thinking solutions to obstacles faced by today’s students that will be relevant far beyond the 18 months the committee is at work,” he said.

NASFAA is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 20,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every ten undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.

More about MCCC's success coach program is available here.

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