WATERVILLE, MAINE, January 2025 — Thomas College’s Executive Director of Student Financial Services Jeannine Ross was recently named the only registered individual in the State of Maine with the Financial Aid Administrator Certification (FAAC) currently in the 100+ Club.
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)’s 100+ Club is a prestigious group of highly motivated financial aid professionals. Members of this club have gone above and beyond the minimum requirements for maintaining the FAAC® designation by recertifying with 100 or more recertification points.
Ross holds these additional financial aid credentials beyond what is required for her position. This allows her to help students and families with financial aid decisions and counseling in the most effective way possible.
“Jeannine is truly exceptional, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our team. As a proud Thomas College alumna, she brings not only expertise but also a deep dedication to the success of our students. Her compassionate nature and tireless efforts ensure that our students receive the best possible aid packages to support their educational goals,” said Thomas College COO Tom Warren.
“I truly believe that as a member of the financial aid community, I owe it to my students, my college and myself to stay current on financial aid topics and regulations. Training and continuous growth within my career is extremely important to me. Assisting a student from day one of their education and then watching them walk across that stage at graduation is a blessing. Continuing my education within financial aid allows me to offer all that I can to those students during that time,” said Ross.
“After almost 18 years working in financial aid, I was finally brave enough to test for the Financial Aid Administrator Certification offered through NASFAA (National Associate of Student Financial Aid Administrators). Passing the exam reignited my passion for the career and I found myself wanting more knowledge and growth than ever before. To stay certified, those with their FAAC must complete 60 recertification points within a three-year period. However, those who earn 100 recertification points within that timeframe earn a special recognition, and this was my goal! It meant enrolling in NASFAA U courses which involved online classroom time, homework, late nights studying, and testing for new credentials, attending conferences, participating in webinars, and other financial aid related activities. I was very proud to recertify almost five months early, November 2024, with my 100+ Club recognition and have a desire to maintain this designation,” said Ross.
Ross also encourages training amongst her staff. Sydney Plourde, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, earned four NASFAA U credentials within her first year of working at Thomas and is working towards her Ed.D. at University of Southern Mississippi with an expected graduation date of August 2026.
About Thomas College:
U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks Thomas College as a top college in Maine for social mobility. Our clear career focus and one-of-a-kind Guaranteed Job Program™ makes it possible to advance faster in the arts and sciences, business, and education. Earn an undergraduate degree in three years and then choose from a variety of in-person or online graduate degree programs that can be completed in one-year or two. Located in Waterville, Maine, Thomas College is your pathway to a promising future, guaranteed. For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.