The TEACH Grant: Effective Implementation Through Partnership
With educator preparation programs experiencing cuts to competitive grant programs and new restrictions on student loans, the TEACH Grant — a complex program that many institutions have not fully implemented — gains new importance. At this joint AACTE/National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators webinar, learn about how this program works and how educator preparation programs and financial aid offices have collaborated to implement it successfully.
Educator preparation and financial aid leaders and staff are encouraged to attend together as they consider whether and how to take advantage of this federal program.
Speakers:
Jacqueline King, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant
AACTE
Jacqueline King, Ph.D. is an independent consultant who works with K-12 and higher education leaders to improve student outcomes.
King has had a long career in education, including 15 years at the American Council on Education (ACE).
She is the author or co-author of numerous reports, articles, and book chapters on college readiness, student financing of higher education, access and persistence in postsecondary education, student demographic trends, educator preparation, philanthropic giving to colleges and universities, and trends in the leadership of higher education.
Meredith Critchfield, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education
Grand Canyon University
Meredith Critchfield, Ph. D, has spent the last 20 years in the field of education. Prior to her appointment as Dean of the College of Education at Grand Canyon University (GCU), Critchfield served in department chair roles and was awarded the earned rank of full professor at GCU.
She has served as a K-12 teacher in the United States and abroad in Kenya and amassed over 40 publications, including a co-authored book with Columbia University’s Teachers College Press, as well as over 60 international, national, and regional conference presentations.
Critchfield hasnettedeight major awards including Teacher of the Year, Leadership in Research and Scholarly Activity Award, Mental Attitude Award, and Distinguished Faculty Scholar.
Benjamin Forsyth, Ph.D.
Associate Dean Undergraduate Studies and Teacher Education
University of Northern Iowa College of Education
His work is focused on overseeing theUniversity-wide Educator Preparation Program. Forsyth previously served as Director of Educator Preparation, which included leading the College of Education Advising and Teacher Education Success Office, and he also served as head of the department of Educational Psychology, Foundations and Leadership Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology and educational technology from Michigan State University and a BA in physics teaching with a math minor from Brigham Young University.
His areas of research are focused in the cognitive sciences and include topics such as the transfer of learning, epistemic beliefs, and eye-tracking methodologies to investigate how experts and novices process information. Prior to his graduate studies, Forsyth taught high school physics in Washington state. Forsyth is a proud husband and father of six children, where he receives regular and substantial continuing education.
Karen McCarthy
Vice President of Public Policy and Federal Relations
NASFAA
Karen McCarthy serves as vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), where she leads the association’s federal advocacy strategy and public policy initiatives. As NASFAA’s chief lobbyist and primary liaison to Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, Karen plays a central role in shaping national financial aid policy and legislative efforts.
Karen has held multiple leadership roles within NASFAA, where she has overseen public policy development, regulatory analysis, research initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. Her work has been instrumental in advancing federal student aid policy, simplifying the FAFSA process, and ensuring effective communication between policymakers and practitioners.
Her background also includes direct institutional experience in financial aid administration at Boston University and Miami University of Ohio. With a strong foundation in student advising, regulatory compliance, and technical training, Karen brings a comprehensive understanding of both policy and practice to her work.
A native of Massachusetts, she holds a master’s degree from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.
Sarah Austin
Policy Analyst
NASFAA
Sarah Austin is a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. She began her financial aid career as a student assistant in the financial aid office at Whitworth University while completing her bachelor’s degree in mathematics. After graduation, she worked at Gonzaga University and then returned to Whitworth as the assistant director of financial aid.
She also served in various volunteer roles, including conference chair, with the Washington Financial Aid Association (WFAA).
Sarah started at NASFAA in 2018 as the Standards of Excellence (SOE) program manager and joined the Policy team in 2024. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, daughter, and two golden doodles.
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