June 4th

Trellis Company, Round Rock, TX

Keynote Speaker

Brittany McDowell, Chair, Texas Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

Brittany McDowell is a former Math Teacher and Banker whose enthusiasm for Financial Literacy is rooted in her personal history of learning things “the hard way.” Brittany launched a Financial Literacy Program at Citizens State Bank in 2021 that was featured in Texas Bankers Magazine and awarded as a 2023 “Leader in Financial Education.” She speaks to thousands of students and adults each year across twelve local school districts, two local community colleges, numerous community organizations, clubs, churches, and conferences. Brittany serves as Chair for the Texas Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, whose mission is to amplify Financial Literacy across Texas and advocate for personal finance in the classroom. She is a member of the Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce Board and the Groesbeck Lions Club. She lives in Groesbeck with her husband, Jeff and three children, Bailey, Cason, and Eleanor.

#1: Concurrent Break Out Session 

1A: Guiding Growth: Strategies For Building Impactful Advisory Committees

A strong and effective advisory committee can be a tremendous asset to both new and well-established financial wellness programs. But starting and maintaining one often takes a back seat to the more pressing needs of day-to-day program operations. This session encourages a strategic and thoughtful approach to committee formation, management, and collaboration.

Chalese Connors, Director, Texas Woman's University

Chalese Connors was named the director of the student financial literacy initiative at Texas Woman’s University in January 2020, and her proposal for the creation of a student money management center was approved that fall. The center, which launched in August 2021, serves students across the TWU System in Denton, Dallas, and Houston with financial coaching, outreach programming, and integration in academics. Chalese, a member of the TACFEP Board of Directors, and her dedicated team of staff and Maroon Money Mentor peer educators are passionate about making a difference in students’ lives.

Paul Goebel, Director, University of North Texas 

Paul Goebel MBA, CPFM®, CPFC® is the founding and managing Director of the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. Paul and his team of professionals, graduate assistants, and undergraduate peer mentors have worked tirelessly to streamline all money management education services under the oversight of one dedicated office serving tens of thousands of students seeking support, counsel, and advice. Under his leadership, the center has received national, state, and institutional awards of excellence.

1B: Gen Z: It's a Vibe

The Student Experience: Strategies for Driving Student Engagement
Delivering a positive student experience relies on understanding their service expectations. This session will focus on distancing yourself from previously held expectations and exercising empathy in your student services role. Sallie Mae will discuss strategies for increasing the engagement with the students you serve.

Sergio Gonzalez, Director, Asst. Region Head-West, Sallie Mae

Sergio joined Sallie Mae in 2005 and is currently Director, Assistant Region Head for the West Region. He is responsible for supporting colleges, universities, high school, and college readiness organizations in Texas as well as New Mexico. Sergio has been in higher education since 1995. Prior to joining Sallie Mae, he was the Financial Aid Director for South Texas College of Law. Sergio is a member and has served on several committees for TASFAA (Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), is also a member of SWASFAA (Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), NMASFAA (New Mexico Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), and TACAC (Texas Association for College Admission Counseling). He is fluent in Spanish and resides in Houston, TX with his wife and dog.

General Session

Building Bridges: Exploring the Needs and Experiences of Texas College Students

Join researchers from Trellis Strategies for an overview of the Fall 2023 Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS) results from over 23,500 students at 54 Texas colleges and universities. The SFWS provides a snapshot of student wellbeing with key metrics related to financial security, paying for college, perceptions of institutional support, basic needs security, transportation, mental health, and more. Understanding the distinctive challenges and opportunities students encountered is crucial for fostering student success and cultivating a supportive learning environment.

Allyson Cornett, Research Manager, Trellis Strategies

Allyson Cornett, CPH, MPH is the Research Manager of the Qualitative and Learner Insights team at Trellis Strategies. Her latest research highlights the intersection of student success, mental health, and basic needs insecurity among college students, illuminating critical pathways toward holistic support and well-being in higher education. Allyson has a Bachelors in Anthropology from Texas State University and a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral and Community Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Carla Fletcher, Research Consultant, Trellis Strategies

Carla Fletcher is a Research Consultant at Trellis Strategies. She focuses on higher education policy issues through the lens of affordability and wellness. She works with institutions, associations, and government entities, using research to help policymakers and practitioners advocate for student access and success. Carla has a Master’s Degree in Applied Sociology from Texas State University.

#2: Concurrent Break Out Session 

2A: Developing a Relief Fund Counseling Framework in Student Financial Wellness Programs

The presentation will explore the client intake process, goal setting, and counseling sessions, emphasizing deeper listening and insightful questioning. Additionally, the presenters will discuss lessons learned in the sessions to better serve students from diverse backgrounds, among other factors. One effective technique that is eye-opening for many students involves reviewing actual consumption affordability and projecting income versus expenditure on a monitor. This technique provides teachable or 'cueing' moments where individuals are motivated to learn, guided by the support of a financial coach (Urban et al., 2020; Willis, 2008).

Clients frequently require assistance understanding complex financial intricacies and acquiring essential knowledge and skills. With sufficient support, guidance, and motivation from the financial coach, clients exhibit a positive financial perspective toward their goals (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2016). Some lessons from the virtual one-on-one counseling sessions include gender roles/preferences and filtration of shame and guilt. This will contribute invaluable insights that foster a profound connection and resonance with the client, further enhancing the effectiveness of the counseling process.

The virtual modality utilized for counseling sessions is more interactive and well-received by the student clients than face-to-face; understanding factors that lead to this success is imminent. Exploring the impact based on virtual modality may provide a better framework for enhancing the overall effectiveness of future counseling programs.

Catherine Komen, Program Director, Red to Black®, Peer Financial Coaching, Texas Tech University

Cathy Komen is the Program Director of Red to Black® Peer Financial Coaching and a doctoral student at Texas Tech University. Her research interest is in student financial wellness, with an emphasis on the impact of financial socialization and education on financial management behaviors. She earned her Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Central Missouri and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development from Webster University. She has over twenty years of experience in several industries, with the last decade dedicated to training corporations on the importance of professionals' understanding and mastering their personal finances.

Prince Bosompim, Texas Tech University

Prince Bosompim is a doctoral student in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University. His research focus is household finance with an emphasis on financial behaviors, FinTech, and Robo-advisory. Before his doctoral studies, Prince obtained a Master of Accounting from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and a Master of Arts in Financial Economics from Youngstown State University. Prince serves as the Raider Relief Ambassador while spearheading research initiatives at Red to Black. He also conducts numerous coaching sessions, leveraging experiential learning and research insights to educate and cultivate responsible financial behaviors and overall well-being among college students.

2B: EmpowerED Alliances: Student Mentor Conference for Financial Excellence

Peer mentoring offers significant advantages for both mentees and mentors, including social support, academic guidance, and career development opportunities. However, challenges like mentor isolation in financial education programs must be addressed. Our institution initiated the Student Mentor Alliance Conference (SMAC) to empower financial peer mentors through networking and knowledge sharing. We'll discuss our program's genesis, SMAC's organization, and the importance of building a resilient support network. Investing in peer financial coaches enhances student financial literacy and fosters community. Our insights aim to guide institutions in establishing or refining financial education peer mentor programs, emphasizing empowerment and connection among mentors for success.

Gabby Pringle-Onwunaka, Assistant Director, Texas Woman's University

GABRIELLE PRINGLE-ONWUNAKA is an Alabama native who earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Montevallo in 2015. She went on to earn her M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of North Texas in 2018. While at UNT, Gabby served as the graduate assistant in the Student Money Management Center for one year. She has given financial presentations and provided one-on-one budgeting sessions as an AmeriCorps member, Bibb County Career Academy’s Career and Technical Coach, and as the founder of The Budgeting Boss, an online financial support group. Gabby oversees TWU’s peer educators, known as Maroon Money Mentors, along with outreach programming and assessment.

Juan E. Gallardo, PH.D., Tarleton State University

JUAN E. GALLARDO serves as an instructor of finance and Director of the Texan Smart Financial Education Center at Tarleton State University. He is a beneficiary of the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), obtaining his GED in 2008. Gallardo pursued higher education at West Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 2012 and a master’s degree in business administration and management in 2014. He holds a PhD in personal financial planning from Kansas State University. His research interests include, financial literacy, student loans, and retirement planning.

June 5th

#3: Concurrent Break Out Session 

3A:  Year One Chronicles: Reflections on Our Rookie Year

Join us for an insightful session where a team of first-year professionals share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs working in a student money management center. Adjusting to the dynamics of a new team and roles involves embracing collaboration, multi-tasking, adapting to diverse responsibilities, and fostering open communication to cultivate a cohesive and supportive work environment. All against the backdrop of one of the nation’s most celebrated financial literacy programs in higher education.

Kamrin Penny, Assistant Director, University of North Texas 

Kamrin Penny, BA, is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Financial Education for the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. She leads the Center’s outreach efforts, special events, workshops, and online sessions to ensure all students have access to financial education. She also oversees the Center’s student employment program, ensuring its smooth operation and empowering students with valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth. Previously, Kamrin worked with youth with mental health diagnoses, bringing a compassionate perspective to her work.

Joy Sabola, University of North Texas

JOY SABOLA, BA, CPFC® is a graduate assistant with the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. Joy has meticulously navigated her first year assisting and providing leadership support to the center’s outreach and marketing efforts. She has thoroughly enjoyed honing her professional skills and expanding her knowledge of the dynamic world of financial wellness. She attained her undergraduate degree in business from the University and is currently pursuing a master’s program in health and public service. Joy is the center’s first international graduate assistant, and she hails from Malawi in East Africa.

3B: Exploring the Role of Social Media in Financial Wellness

Social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives, impacting various aspects of them, including our financial well-being. This workshop aims to shed light on the importance of financial wellness and the role of social media sources in providing information and guidance regarding financial matters. It will explore social media sources' reliability and credibility. This session, also reviews strategies for selecting reliable sources of information to ensure sound financial choices.

Nilda Mason, Texas Financial Wellness Counselor III, University of Texas Austin

Nilda Mason is a first-generation college graduate from Polk State Collage who is passionate about helping students develop a healthy relationship with their finances. As a Certified Personal Financial Counselor and higher education professional, she offers personalized financial counseling services to students, helping them create budgets, set financial goals, and develop strategies to save and manage their money effectively while navigating higher education challenges. Furthermore, she and her team conduct workshops on relevant financial topics to empower students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed financial choices. Her goal is to empower students to take control of their finances and live their life with financial freedom.

Gilbert Rios, University of Texas Austin

Gilbert Rios is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in higher education, who has worked in various roles, including outreach specialist, financial aid advisor and financial wellness counselor. Throughout his career, he has been committed to helping students achieve their academic goals and has been instrumental in expanding outreach programs and services to underserved communities. Gilbert’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in finance from The University of Texas-Pan American and a master’s in business administration from St. Edward’s University. He has applied his business acumen and analytical skills to higher education, creating innovative strategies to improve student success and increase access to higher education.

General Session

Beyond The Ordinary: Our Journey To Creating A Signature Event

Unlock the secrets to crafting an unforgettable signature event experience in this immersive workshop. The UNT Student Money Management Center will share their fourteen-year journey of creating a signature event that has grown from a one-week experience to an entire month – including a unique mentor perspective. Gain practical insights and well-worn strategies for maximizing impact, engaging students, and leaving a lasting impression.

Paul Goebel, Director, University of North Texas

PAUL F GOEBEL MBA, CPFM®, CPFC®, is the founding and managing Director of the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. Paul and his team of professionals, graduate assistants, and undergraduate peer mentors have worked tirelessly to streamline all money management education services under the oversight of one dedicated office serving as a single-entry point for students seeking support, counsel, guidance, and advice. Under his leadership, the center has received numerous national, state, and institutional awards of excellence. Including his selection by the National Financial Educators Council as the 2023 Financial Education Instructor of the Year.

Kamrin Penny, University of North Texas

KAMRIN PENNY, BA, is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Financial Education for the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. She leads the Center’s outreach efforts, special events, workshops, and online sessions to ensure all students have access to financial education. She also oversees the Center’s student employment program, ensuring its smooth operation and empowering students with valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth. Previously, Kamrin worked with youth with mental health diagnoses, bringing a compassionate perspective to her work.

Arwen Elmore, University of North Texas

ARWEN ELMORE, CFPM® is a Senior Money Mentor with the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. She is a triple threat by providing support to the Center’s outreach, emergency assistance, and coaching programs. Arwen serves on the Center’s leadership team and was recently nominated for the University’s Student Employee of the Year Award. She is currently completing her BA in History and plans to enter a Master’s in Library and Information Science program in the fall.