SAGE Scholars was formed in 1997 with the purpose of promoting the values and affordability of private higher education. SAGE Scholars was started by visionary leaders with higher education experience including the former head of admissions and financial aid at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Through our unique Tuition Rewards and other programs, SAGE brings together families, colleges & universities, and investment companies to create college funding solutions.

The SAGE Scholars Advisory Council is made up of senior leaders from SAGE partner schools and other institutions. The Advisory Council consists of college presidents, vice presidents of enrollment, directors of financial aid and other senior staff. The Advisory Council works to promote SAGE’s programs to colleges and universities across America and advises SAGE on issues related to higher education.

To see the members of SAGE’s Advisory Council, click here.

James B. Johnston, Ed.D.
Chairman & CEO
Dr. Johnston is the founder and architect of SAGE Scholars, Inc. A visionary leader in the field of higher education, he works closely with the leaders of private collegiate institutions to make their values oriented educational programs more available and more affordable to families and their children. He developed Tuition Rewards, a college savings plan, in partnership with the member institutions and benefit providers.

Dr. Johnston began his career in education as a professor in the Business Department at Spring Garden College, becoming the first Dean of their Business Management Division. Subsequently, he became Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania where he served for four years. In 1976, he founded Educational Advisory Services, International, an educational consulting firm, the predecessor to SAGE. During this time, he served as Secretary of the Fund for Pennsylvania's State Commission of Higher Education.

Dr. Johnston received his B.A. in Political Science from Bucknell University, his M.B.A. and Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on several boards of philanthropic and educational institutions. He chaired the first of two national conferences on 529 plans.

Janice A. Szwanki
Director of Administration & College Liaison
Janice came to SAGE with over 15 years administrative experience in the field of education. At SAGE, she serves as the director of the office administration and as liaison with the private colleges and universities across the United States. As a college liaison, she routinely contacts college administrators to promote the Tuition Rewards Program. She frequently travels to both member and non-member colleges to provide hands-on demonstrations on how the internet-based program can be optimally utilized. She advises and counsels families and account holders on details and issues related to Tuition Rewards.

Prior to joining SAGE, Janice served with organizations as diverse as Temple University, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and Educational Advisory Services, International. She administered scholarships for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Services, and the Charles E. Ellis Scholarship. As a scholarship coordinator, she managed SAT Preparation classes in local high schools.

Lance A. Masters, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President
Dr. Masters joined SAGE Scholars, Inc. in 2007 to lead the organization’s efforts in providing contemporary know-how about real world college and university financial aid for financial planners and other professionals. As president of a private, liberal-arts college immediately prior to joining SAGE, Dr. Masters was frustrated by the number of families that thought that they couldn’t afford the government-calculated “Expected Family Contribution,” and who therefore ended up transferring to a lower-cost but less desirable option, or, worse yet, even dropping out of college altogether. He was tired of having families accumulate unnecessarily large amounts of debt. He wanted to find a way to help more families enjoy the benefits that are usually only found in private colleges, making a greater impact on all of higher education. At SAGE, Dr. Masters is building advanced learning programs for professional continuing education and possible certification in college and university funding and financial aid. Also, building on his extensive international background and contacts, Dr. Masters is leading SAGE’s expansion into international markets. When realized, this vision will dramatically improve the capacity of international families to afford a quality, American college or university education and thus truly expand the dream of so many colleges that cannot attract the students they want from around the world. Masters has also been named head of SAGE’s proposed non-profit educational foundation.

Prior to joining SAGE, Dr. Masters was President of Thiel College, Greenville, PA, for more than eight years, leaving it better in every dimension: academically, financially and most obviously, in it’s physical infrastructure. Enrollment grew by 50%, charitable support totaled more than $30 million, and the college received its first Federal “earmarks” and state line-item budget appropriations. Prior to serving Thiel, Dr. Masters was a professor and administrator in the California State University system for nearly twenty years. He has taught in the US, Russia, Hong Kong and New Zealand and traveled to more than 30 countries around the globe.

Dr. Masters earned a Ph.D. in Executive Management from the Peter Drucker/Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at The Claremont Graduate University, an M.A. from Claremont, an M.B.A. from California State University, San Bernardino, and the B.A. (Honors) from the University of California Riverside. He has served on the boards of several private and non-profit corporations. Among honors he has received are the DeMolay Active Legion of Honor, 33º Scottish Rite Mason, and inaugural class of the Claremont Graduate University Hall of Fame.

Edwin A. Crispin, Ed.D.
Senior Vice President
Dr. Crispin has been a part of the SAGE Scholars, Inc. management team since SAGE's inception. His primary work has been that of serving as the central person communicating the opportunity and recruiting private colleges and universities to join SAGE. Dr. Crispin brought to SAGE over twenty years of experience in higher education. This experience provides him a comprehensive understanding of all sectors of the higher education community and how to develop creative partnerships that can ensure its vitality and growth.

Prior to SAGE, Dr. Crispin worked in University Continuing Education, first at the University of Maryland, then at the University of Delaware. Responsibilities Dr. Crispin had included the administrative responsibility for annually facilitating approximately 215 credit courses and 160 noncredit activities at an off-campus site of the University of Delaware. This was followed by Dr. Crispin accepting the responsibility for the administration of over 1,800 conferences annually in five University of Delaware conference facilities. Dr. Crispin brought this experience and his innovative abilities to SAGE Scholars, Inc. At SAGE, Dr. Crispin plays a vital part in ensuring that private colleges and universities understand the creative nature and value of the SAGE Tuition Rewards Program and are given the opportunity to join this truly innovative opportunity.

Dr. Crispin earned an Ed.D. in Adult/Continuing Education at Temple University, an M.S. degree at the University of Maryland, and a B.S. degree at the University of Delaware.

Steve Logan
Chief Technology Officer, SAGE Scholars
Steve began working with SAGE Scholars as a web and database developer in 2001, and has been responsible for our Internet presence and database since that time. In September 2005, Steve joined SAGE Scholars full-time as Chief Technology Officer. In addition to his current responsibilities as lead database and Internet developer, Steve also brings new and exciting ideas to SAGE Scholars.

Prior to joining SAGE Scholars, Steve was involved in a Philadelphia based technology company, Navpoint Internet, for thirteen years. In 1996, Steve was instrumental in taking this company to new levels by developing and deploying an ISP (Internet Service Provider) that continues to service the Philadelphia community. Over the past several years, Steve played a key role in directing Navpoint to new markets and helping the company to grow. Steve has over fifteen years experience in the technology, Internet, database and programming sectors.

Robert Savett
Vice President, Marketing
Robert Savett’s diverse experience includes work as a daily newspaper sports reporter and editor; as vice president, catalog for a publicly-traded fashion retailer; as founder of an order "fulfillment" service serving direct marketers; as marketing director for a company promoting "employee appreciation" gifts to HR directors; and, as sales & marketing director for a national provider of employment screening & drug testing services.

He is former president and chairman of the board of the Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association and has written a book on database marketing. He has provided marketing consulting services to such firms as Nordstrom, Cox Newspapers & Prentice Hall Direct. He has served as treasurer, technology committee chair, athletic committee chair and board member (11 years) for a regional private school (grades 6-thru-12). He is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurial management. His daughter graduated from a SAGE member college in 2003; a son expects to enter college in 2008.

W. Stephen Toan
Vice President of Business Development
Over thirty years of experience in sales,business planning and development. Since 1998 President of Capital Markets Associates Inc. an informational services and consulting company representing public and private companies in various financial matters. Prior associations include: President of both the National Education Trust L.L.C. and its affiliated company the College Pre-Payment Fund. Senior Vice President of several Wall Street Investment Companies. Featured in the book Option Trading Strategies That Work by William Eng.

Howard Coonley, II
Vice President, Corporate Relations
Prior to joining Sage Scholars, Howard was Managing Director of Grammer & Co. for their Philadelphia office. This small consulting firm specialized in Organizational Assessment, Risk Management, and Market Development in the financial industry. For five years before taking on that assignment, Howard was one of the five Senior Managers at Commonfund, an organization which provides endowment and operating funds management to non-profit institutions, including educational, cultural and healthcare organizations as well as foundations. In 1998, he became Chief Operating Officer of Commonfund Treasury, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Commonfund.

Howard's early career was primarily in the banking industry where he served in senior roles, first with Philadelphia National Bank (became CoreStates) in Large Corporate Lending both domestically and abroad. He then became Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Officer of CoreStates, N.A. where he created EducationBanking and was responsible for the client alliance leading to the Commonfund.

Howard received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the NCAA single squash champion in 1966, and he graduated from the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management at Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business. He is a Certified Treasury Professional and holds Series 7 and 24 licenses.

Robert R. Palmer
Vice President, College Relations
Bob brings his over 30 years of substantial experience and training in marketing and client relationship building in the higher education community to focus on the future growth of SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards Program. He is responsible for implementing strategic plans for the expansion of the college membership base and serving as liaison with the Advisory Board on college relations.

During Bob's career in higher education, he has held many senior posts. His assignments have included vice president positions in finance and administration, development, and enrollment management. He has held positions as chief operating officer, dean of student affairs, chief financial officer and director of financial aid. His expertise is reflected in the pattern of continued growth in managing complex responsibilities that required leadership, problem solving and communication skills.

Bob received his B.S. from Springfield College in Springfield, MA , followed by his M.Ed. from the same institution. He has received certificates in areas of professional development from Harvard University, Babson College and completed the program in Estate Planning and Deferred Giving Tax Institute. His community service has been impressive and includes work with United Way, Special Olympics and the Urban League.