Student-Aid Administrators' Conference Opens, Acknowledging Leadership Change

San Antonio — As the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ annual conference began here today, the group’s national chairman took a few moments to explain how Nasfaa was handling its president’s leave of absence.

The chairman, David Gruen, acknowledged that the association’s president, Philip R. Day, faces criminal charges but sought to reassure the group at its well-attended opening session. “I want to make it clear Nasfaa is not now, and never has been, leaderless,” he said, noting the contributions of the board and association staff members.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Phil,” Mr. Gruen said, and the board hopes for a speedy resolution of the situation.

The board will meet regularly to monitor the situation and take action as more facts in the case against Mr. Day become known, he said.

Mr. Gruen explained that he and the incoming chairman, Barry W. Simmons Sr., met with Mr. Day on Wednesday, after learning of the charges. Mr. Day asked the board for a leave of absence, which it granted.

On Friday the board named a longtime Nasfaa leader, Joan Crissman, as interim president. “This association is much more, it’s much larger than one person,” Ms. Crissman told the audience, before introducing the keynote speaker, Robert M. Shireman, deputy under secretary of education. —Beckie Supiano