Shawna Newman, Fastweb

Shawna Newman

About Shawna Newman

Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial aid, the FAFSA, and student loans. Shawna enjoys exploring low-cost paths to earning a degree or learning a trade with little to no debt. She also highlights options like working in public service or for companies that offer tuition assistance to their employees.

With over 10 years of involvement in higher education, Shawna's professional background is extensive. Her direct work with college admissions teams, financial aid officers, college deans, and degree program coordinators at the University of Central Missouri provides her with a unique and insightful perspective.

As a first-generation college graduate, Shawna's personal experiences have deeply shaped her values and influenced her work today. She understands the challenges and the triumphs of navigating the higher education system as a first-generation student. Her work in public service led to student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. She's also the proud parent of a current high school student and is involved in exploring career paths and discussing how to pay for school with her daughter. This personal connection makes her work more relatable and her advice valuable.

These experiences fuel Shawna's dedication to sharing essential tools like Fastweb with underserved students across America. She firmly believes that every student—whether attending high school, trade school, community college, or university—should have access to financial information and resources to achieve their goals without the burden of student loan debt.

In her free time, Shawna finds joy in flower gardening, cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs, and exploring national parks with her family. Shawna calls Kansas City, Missouri, home.

Professional Roles

Shawna has excelled in various professional roles, including:

  • Managing editor, content strategist, writer, and social media expert at Fastweb.
  • Senior marketing specialist for the University of Central Missouri, specializing in financial aid and working with the Colleges of Health, Science, Technology, Education & more.
  • Public affairs coordinator for Wentworth Military Academy and College.

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Public Relations with a minor in Corporate Communications from the University of Central Missouri.

Connect with Shawna

Recent Articles

July College Checklist for Rising Seniors in High School

Class of 2026: Here's what you need to do in July.

Published June 27, 2025

HBCU Scholarships 2025

HBCU is an acronym for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Published June 26, 2025

July College Checklist for a Soon-to-be College Freshman

Follow this list during the month of July to ensure you're prepared for college this fall!

Published June 25, 2025

July Checklist for Upcoming High School Juniors

Class of 2027: Here's what you need to do in July.

Published June 23, 2025

College Freshman Wins Fastweb's $3,030 Scholarship Anniversary Sweepstakes

Don't give up – your next big win could be just an application away!

Published June 18, 2025