Biography and Statement of Candidacy
Jody Darby, Candidate for SASFAA Treasurer-Elect, 2016-2017
As an 18-year-old federal work-study student in the counseling office
on my college campus, I found myself bored. This is where it really
began. I am Jody Darby—a guy who began this career that I hold dear
much like many of our colleagues. During my first semester of
employment, because the offices were within an eye shot of one
another, I knew that the financial aid office always appeared to be
busy. A job came open in that bustling area just a few doors down
from where I sat counting ceiling tiles above me, and I was quick to
jump at that opportunity.
This job came with two main things I need to tackle first: 1. Learn all
these weird combinations of letters (7 in each sequence) that would
help me to help customers. As I keyed a combo of Rs and As and
WRDs, slowly but surely, I came to love Banner—and still use Alt-F4,
F7, etc. today. The mouse? In Banner? Why?  2. EDExpress. As
students submitted their paper FAFSAs (yes, paper) to the office, one
of my first duties was to key that information into EDExpress—quickly
learning how many times I had to ‘tab’ to get from required vs. nonrequired fields, etc. Little did I know these two tasks would lead me next into loan certification and counseling,
speaking to high school groups touring campus, etc.—and all while a FWS student. That next summer, a full-time
job came open, and I was quick to jump at that opportunity. I had already been taking student files home with
me to review SAP at night (yes, hand-calculated) after I finished my homework. My parents surely thought I had
lost my mind.
A spirit of volunteerism, at least for me, was something that had been fostered from an early age. From a very
young age, I was heavily involved in our local 4-H program. Many weekends, I was showing livestock or helping
others with theirs, volunteering to sing at local nursing homes for the holidays, or helping other members of our
club at a local roadway trash clean-up, etc. Giving to others and doing for others while expecting nothing in
return became a part of life—lessons for which I’m ever grateful to have learned.
Through professional organization involvement, I have made life-long friends—friends on whom I know I can call
when I have a question about a policy interpretation, a situation on which I need another set of eyes and ears,
or someone I can call when I just need to vent. SASFAA is nothing without its volunteers. Presently serving in my
second year as a SASFAA Board member, I can attest to the Association’s leaders’ spirit and drive. Each of us
around the Board table is there with one purpose: doing what we can do to continue advocating for our
students and advocating for financial aid professionals in our 9-state region while remaining great stewards of
the Association’s funds. The Treasurer’s and Treasurer-Elect’s roles are vitally important. Yet on a smaller scale
than SASFAA, I have served my state association, GASFAA, for a total of 6 years in either Treasurer (5 years) or
Treasurer-Elect (1 year) roles. Serving as GASFAA’s first Treasurer-Elect and on the SASFAA Board when the
Treasurer-Elect position was voted to be put before the membership, I well understand the duties, the vital
importance the position holds related to separation of duties, timely payment of bills, attention to detail, etc.
Henry Ford stated, “The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can't are both right. Which one are
you?” In life, sometimes daily, we encounter students, colleagues, parents, etc., who think they fit into either
the ‘can’ or ‘can’t’ categories. Together, though, you and I help turn those naysayers into believers---believers in
themselves, believers in successes.
Three quick thoughts I try to keep at the forefront of my days:
Biography and Statement of Candidacy
Jody Darby, Candidate for SASFAA Treasurer-Elect, 2016-2017
1. Negativity gets us no where nice. Stay positive in your attitude and words.
2. Find your passion. If you’re in financial aid and don’t like it, you’re doing students and customers a
disservice. If you’re an artist and don’t like to paint, you shouldn’t paint. There are jobs and careers for
everyone. Don’t make others miserable because you may be. Find your passion—one that you can give
100%, and go for it.
3. Tomorrow is another day. In life, we make mistakes. Nothing is so broken that it’s not able to be fixed—
literally or figuratively. Take a break. Take a deep breath. Relax. We live and learn. It’s when we are only
living without learning that true problems persist.
I look forward to continuing to serve SASFAA and its members in whatever capacity I can be best used. If you
also volunteer, thank you. If you don’t, please consider it. The intrinsic rewards you will earn are, and will
remain, ever valuable. Thank you for your support, and thank you for what you do each day. No matter your role
in the office, the size of your student body or staff, whether you work at a loan servicer, a small trade school, or
in the largest institution in your state, what you do is important. Keep up the great work. I hope to see you in
Greensboro. P.S. I will probably have on some crazy socks, so please do ask to see them. 
Current Employment:
Executive Director, Student Financial Services
Chattahoochee Technical College – Marietta, GA
Years in Financial Aid: Working on year #18
Previous Employment:
Director of Financial Aid
Director of Financial Aid
Director of Financial Aid
Financial Aid Administrator (Director)
Financial Aid Counselor
Financial Aid Coordinator / Freshmen
Financial Aid Assistant
Federal Work-Study student
North Metro Technical College, Acworth, GA
Gwinnett Technical College, Duluth, GA
Fortis College (formerly Medix School), Smyrna, GA
North Metro Technical College, Acworth, GA
Fortis College, Smyrna, GA
American InterContinental University, Atlanta, GA
Dalton State College, Dalton, GA
Dalton State College, Dalton, GA
Formal Education:
Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration - Management
Shorter University, Rome, GA
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Professional Association Volunteer Roles:
SASFAA – Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators:
2015-2016
Chair, Communications and Outreach
2014-2015
Chair, Communications and Outreach
2013-2014
Instructor, SASFAA New Aid Officers’ Workshop, SC
2012-2013
Instructor, SASFAA New Aid Officers’ Workshop, AL
2011-2012
Instructor, SASFAA New Aid Officers’ Workshop, NC
2010-2011
Instructor, SASFAA New Aid Officers’ Workshop, SC
Other SASFAA roles:
Governance and Planning (GAP) Committee
Conference Committee
Membership Committee
Biography and Statement of Candidacy
Jody Darby, Candidate for SASFAA Treasurer-Elect, 2016-2017
SASFAA Mentor
GASFAA – Georgia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators:
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008
2006-2007
2005-2006
2004-2005
2003-2004
2002-2003
2001-2002
Chair, Communications and Technology
Treasurer
Treasurer-Elect
Coordinator, Vendors/Sponsors
Vice President, Programs (Conference)
Committee Member, Programs
Treasurer
Treasurer
Coordinator, Vendors/Sponsors
Committee Member, Programs
Treasurer
Treasurer
Chair, Membership Development
Committee Member, Programs
Committee Member, Programs
Award: GASFAA Past Presidents’ Award for Distinguished Service, 2014-2015
Other Community Volunteer Activities:
Georgia 4-H
…Performing arts programs’ judge
…Nationally acclaimed performing team, Clovers and Company, staff
Georgia Distinguished Young Women (DYW) Scholarship Program (formerly Junior Miss)
…Interview and talent coach
…Local program judges’ chairperson
…Local program judge
Cherokee FOCUS (non-profit board)
…Board member
…Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairperson