Timeline & Commitment

Start date: September 2026
End date: June 2027

The State Advocacy Network will hold periodic virtual meetings, no more than once a month and no less than once a quarter, to discuss timely issues in state policy and share best practices for state advocacy. The group may also communicate via the State Advocacy Network email listserv, and network members are expected to respond with requested feedback within a reasonable amount of time. The State Advocacy Network will not meet in person.

Composition

• Members: 
  • Arizona - Aurie Clifford, Pima County Community College District
  • Arkansas - Kimberly Stubbs, University of Central Arkansas
  • California -
    • Jenny Garcia, University of San Francisco
    • Noemi Garcia Tagorda, University of Southern California
  • Connecticut -
    • Ryan Jones, Connecticut State Community College
    • Pamela Welch, Yale University
  • Florida - Karissa Lawson, Lake Sumter State College
  • Illinois -
    • Alexis Brown, Blackburn College
    • Kathleen Sanders, Elgin Community College
    • Amanda Starwalt, Eastern Illinois University
  • Iowa - Sarah Freestone, Drake University
  • Indiana - Mary Nucciarone, University of Notre Dame
  • Kentucky -
    • Kara Cain, University of the Cumberlands
    • Mark Messingschlager, Thomas More University
    • Kimberley Dolan, Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
  • Maryland -
    • Andrew Harvey, Garrett College
    • David Horne, Towson University
  • Massachusetts -
    • Dawn Batchelor, Bay Path University
    • Jillian Glaze, Bunker Hill Community College
  • Mississippi - Jaime Missimer, Pearl River Community College
  • Missouri -
    • Keri Gilbert, Stephens College
    • Amy Hager, Moberly Area Community College
    • Charles Mayfield, Northwest Missouri State University
    • William Shaffner, MOHELA
  • Montana - Valerie Curtin, Helena College University of Montana
  • Nebraska - Susan Collins, Doane University
  • Nevada - Ashley Salisbury, Nevada System of Higher Education
  • New Mexico -
    • Virginia Tucker, New Mexico State University
    • Elizabeth Amador, University of New Mexico
  • New York - Mary Lawyer, State University of New York, Student Loan Service Center
  • North Carolina -
    • Lee Bray, Pitt Community College
    • Dara Muldoon, Cape Fear Community College
    • William Voris, Rockingham Community College
  • Ohio -
    • Brenda Burke, Kent State University
  • Oklahoma -
    • Audra Main, Moore Norman Technology Center
    • Perry Diehm, Southern Nazarene University
    • Sandra McKnight, Oklahoma Career Tech
  • Oregon -
    • Frankie Everett, Rogue Community College
    • Rob Keever, Southern Oregon University
    • Amanda Vargas, Klamath Community College
  • Pennsylvania -
    • Emiyaril Alvarez, Millersville University
    • Katherine Meyers, Douglas Education Center
    • Robin Walker, Wilkes University
    • Kristina Wilhelm-Nelson, Villanova University
  • Rhode Island - Melissa Donahue, Rhode Island School of Design
  • South Carolina -
    • Zachary Christian, South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission
    • Joseph Derrick, University of South Carolina
    • Kelli Fookes, Coastal Carolina University
  • Tennessee -
    • Emma Hlubb, The University of Tennessee Southern
    • LeChelle Hunt-Davenport, Southern College of Optometry
    • Melony Myers, Tennessee Board of Regents
    • April Wolford, University of Tennessee
    • Jana Cox, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
    • Janice Maddox-McKenzie, University of Tennessee Health Sciences
  • Texas -
    • Krystia Mitchell, Dallas College
    • Ben Montecillo, University of Houston
    • JoEllen Price, San Jacinto College
    • Tonya Richardson-Dean, East Texas A&M University
    • Beth Tolan, University of North Texas
  • Utah -
    • Casey Himmelsbach, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Lynn Weaver, Western Governors University
  • Vermont - Ryan Dulude, Community College of Vermont
  • Virginia - Amy Sartori, Regent University
  • Wisconsin -
    • Casey Lehmann, Nicolet Area Technical College
    • Katy Weisenburger, University of Wisconsin - Madison
    • Kevin McShane, Herzing University
• NASFAA Staff Liaisons: Nalia Medina, Rachel Rotunda, Jackie Cottom

Background

Over the past several years, state-level interest in postsecondary education legislation has been trending upward. Issues pertaining to student financial aid, such as college affordability, return on investment, workforce development, and the impact of federal policy changes at the state level, have become of particular interest. The growing activity within states has federal lawmakers looking closely at state-based legislation to determine their potential as federally scalable solutions for postsecondary affordability, accessibility, and accountability. 

To support the financial aid community and state associations' work around state-based financial aid issues, and in response to requests from several state associations for more NASFAA assistance, NASFAA in September 2020 convened its State Advocacy Task Force. The members of the State Advocacy Task Force served as collaborators as NASFAA explored the tools and resources that would best support states and regions engaging in advocacy around state financial aid policy issues. The task force met with experts to better understand current and future trends in state student aid policy, and assisted NASFAA staff in shaping the association's role in state advocacy and engagement. The group's work concluded in May 2021, after developing materials and resources for the State Advocacy Toolkit, which provides resources and materials to support state-level advocacy for regions, states, institutions, and individuals interested in becoming more engaged in state-level student aid policy. The toolkit includes the State Legislation Activity Form, State Education Policy Tracker, and the Getting Started: State Advocacy Presentation.

To build off the work of the State Advocacy Task Force, NASFAA established its State Advocacy Network. Using the advocacy toolkit as the foundation for its state-level work, the State Advocacy Network provides a forum for leaders in state student aid policy to share emerging policy trends, bring the practitioner perspective to state policy discussions, exchange effective advocacy and implementation strategies, and identify opportunities for NASFAA to support state-level advocacy efforts. Although each state's financial aid system is unique, even states with drastically different student aid landscapes may experience similar policy proposals within their state legislatures. Establishing a network of leaders who are active in monitoring state legislation will help states be cognizant of emerging issues that may appear in their own state, and learn best practices that have been effective in other states' advocacy efforts. The network will also allow for NASFAA to gain feedback on additional resources that would be helpful to state-level advocacy efforts, and will establish strong communication channels through which states can request additional support from NASFAA on state issues. 

NASFAA seeks volunteers from the general membership, and requests that state and regional association leaders encourage individuals within their respective associations who are active in state advocacy to serve as members of the State Advocacy Network. Volunteers should be financial aid administrators with previous experience and/or strong interest in state financial aid policy and advocacy, such as serving as leaders on relevant committees within their state/regional association (such as state/government relations or advocacy), or being involved in coordinating state-level advocacy events or initiatives. The State Advocacy Network will also serve as a resource for states that are becoming involved in state policy and advocacy for the first time. As such, state and regional associations launching new efforts around state policy are also encouraged to share this opportunity with their members to join the State Advocacy Network, regardless of their previous experience with state issues.

Purpose

The State Advocacy Network strengthens the voice and influence of financial aid professionals in state higher education policy by connecting practitioners, identifying emerging policy trends, sharing advocacy strategies, and ensuring that state policy discussions are informed by the expertise of financial aid administrators and centered on student access, affordability, and success.  

• Ensure other states and regions are aware of emerging trends that may appear in their own state
• Request additional support from NASFAA to assist with advocacy around pertinent state legislation, and
• Notify NASFAA of new issues in state student aid policy.
• Assist NASFAA's policy team in identifying emerging trends and opportunities for additional tools or resources, research, or modifications to NASFAA's existing resources that would strengthen and support state-level advocacy efforts.
• Coordinate and provide information to state leaders on NASFAA's federal policy positions that have relevance at the state level, and in turn ensure that NASFAA's federal policy and advocacy strategy is informed by existing and emerging trends in state financial aid policy.
• Provide a forum for state and regional leaders who follow state financial aid legislation and coordinate state-level advocacy efforts to share best practices related to communication with state lawmakers, student engagement, and advocacy campaigns. 
• Identify opportunities for partnerships between the financial aid community and relevant state organizations, state government agencies, and community stakeholders.

Indicators of Success & Outcomes

NASFAA Policy Staff will have a reliable group of members available to share updates on emerging issues in state financial aid policy and provide feedback on NASFAA's state advocacy resources and initiatives.

Task Force Members' Duties & Responsibilities

The State Advocacy Network will be a reliable, readily available group of members who are expected to: 

• Bring the practitioner perspective to state policy discussions by proactively identifying and sharing updates on pertinent state-level financial aid issues, policy trends, and legislation that NASFAA and the financial aid community should be aware of, including the potential operational and student impacts of those policies.
• Provide timely, relevant feedback and examples to inquiries from NASFAA policy staff and Network members related to emerging state issues, proposed legislation, policy implementation, and related advocacy initiatives.
• Participate in peer-to-peer learning and support by sharing advocacy strategies and engaging with other state and regional leaders who request feedback and/or best practices related to state advocacy.
• Assist in disseminating NASFAA's State Advocacy Toolkit across state and regional associations.
• Identify opportunities for  NASFAA to strengthen state advocacy efforts through research, partnerships, and provide feedback on its existing state-level policy and advocacy tools and additional resources.
• Respond to questions and requests from NASFAA policy staff regarding state-level financial aid legislation and engage in discussion around how those issues may inform NASFAA's federal policy recommendations and advocacy strategy.
• Uphold and maintain confidentiality, when appropriate.

The State Advocacy Network will hold periodic virtual meetings, no more than once a month and no less than once a quarter, to discuss timely issues in state policy and share best practices for state advocacy. The group may also communicate via the State Advocacy Network email listserv, and network members are expected to respond with requested feedback within a reasonable amount of time. The State Advocacy Network will not meet in person.

The State Advocacy Network will be contacted as needed, through June 30, 2027.

Budget

There are currently no planned expenditures.