In March, I was joined by nearly 160 of our colleagues for NACAC’s Annual Advocacy Meeting. I left excited and exhilarated about our work and our future.
The Advocacy Meeting is a two-day event, but in my capacity as a member of NACAC’s Government Relations Committee, I arrived in Washington, DC, a day early to discuss some pending policy positions we had been debating. I found the weekend particularly rewarding because of the conversations had, the opportunity to see friends and meet new people, and to use my voice to affect policy in the halls of Congress.
My colleagues and I met with congressional staff from all nine states that comprise the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and while not every congressional office agreed with our policy recommendations, I believe they came away with a better understanding of what we do on a daily basis and why our work is so critical to the future of our students and our country.
While coming to Washington is a thrill, our colleagues are doing equally important work in state capitals around the country. Within SACAC, advocacy meetings have been held in Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, among others.
There may be an advocacy day in your state. Reach out to your Government Relations Committee chair to find out more—no experience is necessary. We have people who have been in the field for decades as well as attendees that are still within their first decade on the job. The common theme is that they love their work and want to advocate for the profession and the students they serve.
I joined NACAC to become more empowered, and one of the ways this empowerment manifests itself is by meeting with state and federal lawmakers about my job, its challenges, and its many rewards. I encourage you to add your voice to the conversation.
Christy Sevier is the director of admissions at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (LA) and a member of NACAC’s Government Relations Committee.