MEMBER ADVISORY

March 7, 2022

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities will hold an informational webinar with the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Federal Student Aid on Wednesday, March 16 at 3 p.m. ET. HACU Government Relations staff will be joined by Ashley Harrington, senior advisor to the chief operating officer at the DOE’s Office of Federal Student Aid. The discussion will serve to educate HACU-members and their alumni on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). A description of PSLF and speaker bio can be found below. Click here to register.

• The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) provides public service workers with federal student debt forgiveness after 10 years or 120 consecutive monthly payments. Many HACU members are eligible for PSLF. On Oct. 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a change to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program rules for a limited time as a result of the COVID-19 national emergency.Now, for a limited time, borrowers may receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF.

Speaker Biography

Ashley Harrington is the senior advisor to the Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. In this role, she advises the COO on policy implementation, operations, and external communications related to the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Prior to joining FSA, Ashley served as federal advocacy director and senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Ashley led CRL’s federal advocacy efforts, helping to shape fair lending and consumer protection reforms to address racial wealth disparities. Her portfolio included a range of consumer lending issues, with a focus on student debt reform.  Ashley also previously worked at UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) and in the New York Governor’s Office. She is the author of articles and reports on student debt, particularly as it affects Black borrowers; a frequent media contributor; and she has provided testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee and Small Business Committee. Ashley received her B.A. in Public Policy Analysis from UNC-Chapel Hill and her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in New York.

HACU Member Advisories are a service of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)