At TICAS, we believe in the power of advocacy, leadership, and lived experience to drive equitable higher education policy. As a reflection of that belief, we launched the Empowering Future Higher Education Policy Leaders Fellowship, bringing together a diverse cohort of ten passionate fellows from around the country committed to shaping policies that improve college affordability and student success. Over the course of the fellowship program from September 2024 through March 2025, participants learned about the federal policymaking process, built their professional networks, and engaged directly with congressional offices. As our program concluded, fellows reflected on what they learned, how they grew, and how they plan to carry this work forward in their own communities and careers.
Building Knowledge and Advocacy Skills
TICAS designed this fellowship to equip emerging leaders who attended community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) with knowledge, skills, and networks to become effective policy advocates. Our fellowship cohort included individuals with a wide range of professional backgrounds, including student affairs professionals, admissions counselors, academic researchers, and community foundation leaders. Over the course of the fellowship, fellows engaged in discussions with policy experts, participated in skill-building policy sessions, and deepened their understanding of the pressing policy challenges in higher education.
Fellows participated in a comprehensive hybrid experience that included four virtual sessions and two in-person convenings in Washington, DC. The virtual sessions laid the groundwork for understanding higher education policy changes, legislative processes, and how to advocate effectively on Capitol Hill. These sessions featured discussions with policy experts, researchers, and practitioners who helped fellows sharpen their policy analysis, messaging, and storytelling for advocacy.
Two in-person trips to Washington provided fellows with an immersive experience in federal policymaking. During these convenings, they engaged in hands-on learning, met policy experts working both on and off the Hill, and connected with key stakeholders working to advance college affordability and student success. These experiences built their confidence and advocacy skills, preparing them for a day of meetings with Congressional and Senate offices on the Hill.
Making an Impact on the Hill
A day on the Hill offered fellows the opportunity to advocate for students directly in the heart of federal policymaking in Washington, DC. Each fellow identified and championed TICAS policy priorities that reflect their experiences working with students directly, from expanding support for Pell Grants to increasing access to evidence-based programs that help first-generation and low-income students complete college. Throughout the day, fellows met with congressional staff representing their home districts and states, sharing their personal and professional insights and highlighting the real-world impact of policy decisions on students and families within their own communities. These conversations reinforced the importance of elevating diverse voices in the policy process and demonstrated the power of community-driven advocacy.
TICAS extends special thanks to the congressional offices who took the time to meet with our fellows and engage in thoughtful conversations about the future of higher education:
- Senator Adam Schiff (California)
- Senator Alex Padilla (California)
- Senator Reverend Raphael G. Warnock (Georgia)
- Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois)
- Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi)
- Senator Thom Tillis (North Carolina)
- Senator John Cornyn (Texas)
- Representative Jimmy Gomez (California – District 34)
- Representative Greg Steube (Florida – District 17)
- Representative Sean Casten (Illinois – District 6)
- Representative Michael Guest (Mississippi – District 3)
- Representative Valerie Foushee (North Carolina – District 4)
- Representative Alma Adams (North Carolina – District 12)
- Representative Joaquin Castro (Texas – District 20)
Reflections from Fellows in their Own Words
Following the conclusion of the program, fellows shared their reflections on the most impactful elements of their experience with TICAS and what skills, lessons, and perspectives they hope to incorporate in their own leadership moving forward.
“The fellowship reinforced how critical it is for students and professionals from diverse backgrounds to be involved in policy discussions. It also highlighted the importance of relationship-building in advocacy efforts and how strategic communication can influence change.”
– Nathaniel Ilo, Admissions Counselor for Diversity Initiatives, University of California, Santa Barbara
“Engaging in policy at the federal level enables me to be more effective in my work, ensuring that my advocacy and philanthropic efforts are grounded in a broader understanding of systemic challenges and opportunities. Moving forward, I am committed to integrating this policy awareness into my work, ensuring that the students, families, and communities I serve are not just supported at the local level but also uplifted through national policy efforts that impact their futures.”
– Kesa Jessup, Program Director, Access to Postsecondary Education, Winston-Salem Foundation
“Sustainable policy change doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it takes diverse voices and strong partnerships to make a lasting impact.”
– Marie Roberts, Assistant Director for Communications, Policy, and Advocacy, Woodward Hines Education Foundation
“Skill-wise, I walk away with stronger policy literacy, greater confidence in engaging with decision-makers, and a clearer understanding of how to translate campus-level issues into language that resonates at the federal level. But just as importantly, I leave with a renewed sense of responsibility. I know I have a role to play—not just as a counselor or educator, but as someone who can connect the lived experiences of students on the margins to the people crafting the policies that affect them.”
– Tristin Fowler, Doctoral Candidate, University of Southern California
“One of my biggest takeaways from the fellowship is the importance of storytelling in shaping and influencing higher education policy. I now have a deeper appreciation for how lived experience—particularly from MSIs, community colleges, and underserved student populations—can be translated into compelling narratives that resonate with policymakers and drive change.”
– Dawn Matthews, Associate Dean of University College, North Carolina Central University
“Throughout the fellowship, I gained valuable skills in communicating my work and its connection to reforms around carcerality. I also learned the importance of engaging in dialogue with those who may not fully align with my advocacy, and that finding common ground rooted in mutual respect is possible and necessary. These lessons will be deeply incorporated into my dissertation and future interactions, as I hope to encourage others to see policy not as intimidating, but as a powerful and necessary tool for change.”
– Armando Lizarraga, Doctoral Candidate, The University of Texas at Austin
Looking Ahead
The success of our inaugural fellowship affirms the need for intentional investment in future policy leaders, particularly those with lived experiences that reflect the students and communities most affected by higher education policies.
As federal policymakers debate the future of postsecondary affordability, access, and student success, members of Congress must listen to the voices of their community members working on behalf of today’s students. We are proud of our fellows’ achievements in their respective roles and throughout this fellowship, and we look forward to growing this program to continue building a pipeline of diverse advocates in higher education policy.
