Advancing Collegiate Financial Wellness as an Essential Ingredient for Student Success

Virtual Symposium

MCCFW’s Annual Virtual Symposium is the signature event for Maryland’s campus-based professionals and community partners to convene for learning, sharing, and growing collegiate financial wellness initiatives as a part of larger efforts to increase student success.

Meet the Speakers

  • DR. TISA SILVER CANADY

    FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MCCFW

  • MICHAEL G. McMILLAN, Ph.D., CFA, CPA, CCEP

    ROBERT H. SMITH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

  • LAKEYLA "KEYLA" WHITAKER

    FINANCIAL WELLNESS COORDINATOR OF ESSENTIAL NEEDS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Agenda

Welcome
Dr. Tisa Silver Canady, Founder and Executive Director, Maryland Center for Collegiate Financial Wellness (MCCFW)

Opening Remarks

General Session 1
Keeping Pace: Adapting to Change…Everywhere, All at Once
Federal budgets bring change every year and for higher ed, administrators and advocates question the system’s ability to keep pace. This session will focus on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as “OB3”, how it affects the financial landscape for postsecondary students as well as state initiatives and advocacy efforts to support students and families during times of transition and beyond.

General Session 2
Taking Flight: Building Financial Life Skills on Campus from the Pilot’s View
MCCFW launched a dual-campus pilot of the CRREST Academy Challenge to reach current college students with a curriculum for financial and academic success. Learn from members of cross-campus teams about the process of building a financial education platform, the transformation from an idea to a full-fledged academic study, and highlights of the experience from the team and student participants’ perspectives.

Breakout Sessions (Attendees must select one Breakout Session during registration)

Session 1
Financial Wellness on Campus: Spotlight on the University of Maryland
Facilitated by Annie Weinschenk, SECU

Session 2
GEARS: Student Loan Exit Insights
Facilitated by Melanie Mason, Director of Programs and Administration, MCCFW

General Session 3
Insights from the National 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey
May Plumb, PhD, Trellis Strategies

Closing Remarks
Dr. Tisa Silver Canady, MCCFW

The 2026 Virtual Symposium is presented with generous support from:

If your organization is committed to advancing financial wellness, partner with MCCFW as a Symposium Sponsor.

Click the button to view our Symposium Partner Guide and learn more about the event and 2026 sponsorship opportunities.

View the 2026 Symposium Partner Guide