NASFAA Members Reflect on Opening 2024-25 Advocacy Pipeline Meetings
To formally kick off the 2024-25 Advocacy Pipeline, NASFAA last month hosted two members in Washington, D.C. to engage in meetings with congressional staffers from Vermont and Missouri.
Ryan Dulude from the Community College of Vermont and Emily Haynam from the University of Missouri met with the offices of Sens. Peter Welch (R-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Reps. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) and Blaine Luetkemyer (R-Mo.). They highlighted the importance of robust funding for campus-based aid programs, reforming student loan repayment by lowering interest rates and simplifying the existing repayment plans, and strengthening the Pell Grant program. They also discussed the Student Loan Tax Elimination Act, cosponsored by Hawley, that would eliminate student loan origination fees.
We asked the Advocacy Pipeline participants to share their thoughts and key takeaways from their time advocating with congressional staffers. Read on to learn about their experiences, and fill out this interest form if you would like to participate in an Advocacy Pipeline event.
Ryan Dulude – Director of Financial Aid, Community College of Vermont:
I was so fortunate to have been chosen to participate in the Advocacy Pipeline. This was my second pipeline experience, and my comfort level between the first time and this one was much higher. I also – because of the FAFSA experience throughout the year – had forged several connections with Vermont’s delegation staff so I had some familiarity with the staffers, even if only by largely email interaction.
Every part of the experience was wonderful. Nalia was excellent; she provided us with solid guidance and was integral in helping us interweave our talking points together and making the ‘flow’ of the meeting feel natural. I was partnered with an awesome colleague, Emily, who is a truly wonderful person. The topics played to each of our respective interests and strengths. Though you can get several different types of experiences and levels of responsiveness in these meetings, each of the staffers took notes, appeared interested, and asked follow up questions to our talking points. One staffer even had a parent who attended and graduated from my institution — and I was that parent’s financial aid counselor when she attended!
Here is what I want to tell you if you want to try this: it’s both more fun and less scary than you think. You probably are thinking that speaking with congressional staff is an intimidating experience. Walking into the marbled halls of congressional office buildings or across the Capitol grounds as you go from the House side to the Senate side, it can make it seem even more so. But YOU are the expert in the room and they agreed to this meeting because they want to hear from NASFAA and YOU. You have a chance to showcase that experience, to talk about things that can make a more affordable future for students, and to make new connections that can sustain and help you grow professionally. You belong there.
Emily Haynam – Executive Director of Student Financial Aid, University of Missouri:
It is always an honor to participate in our democratic process and work to make a difference for our student aid programs. Our NASFAA liaison was top-notch and had us well prepared. Throughout the day of advocacy, we were confident and able to provide great information.
Throughout our time on Capitol Hill, we also made good connections with our representatives. The experience was amazing, and knowing it was a small step in helping make a difference made it completely worth it.
Publication Date: 11/20/2024
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