What is the role of Aspartate Transaminase in gluconeogenesis?
I may have approached this problem from the wrong direction, so here's my attempt at an answer:

For gluconeogenesis to function, glycolysis needs to be shut off.  Glycolysis feeds the TCA cycle with Acetyl-CoA through the decarboxylation of pyruvate, and without glucose as a source, we need to look to other methods of generating OAA to make into PEP.  We can make OAA through Aspartate Transaminase by reacting Aspartate with α-ketoglutarate.