Last week, more than 230 students, practitioners, and leaders from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) gathered in Washington, DC, for NCAN’s inaugural 2025 Leadership Summit.
Building on the success of our annual Hill Day and Advocacy Training, the Summit marked a new chapter in NCAN’s policy and leadership programming - bringing together attendees from across the nation, including over 60 students, for
two days of advocacy, skill-building, and connection.
In addition to general sessions, NCAN also hosted a half-day Executive Retreat for 50 organizational leaders, offering a space for strategy exchange and deeper
discussion on the role of executive leadership in today’s shifting policy landscape.
Day One
The Summit kicked off at the Partnership for Public Service near the White House. Jarian Kerkes, Head of Social Impact and Community Engagement at Equitable and NCAN Board Member, welcomed and inspired participants by reminding them of the power of their stories and the importance of lifting up the voices of students.
Making College Affordable Again
In the first policy session of the conference, panelists discussed the rising cost of higher education for students from low-income families and explored innovative approaches to restoring affordability and expanding access. The session featured:
These experts discussed the need to improve the transparency of college costs and ensure that every prospective student understands when they are being offered a loan and when they are being offered a grant. It also discussed dual enrollment and initiatives
to accelerate time to degree.
Promoting Quality Postsecondary Education and Career Pathways
This session unpacked strategies for ensuring quality outcomes and career readiness, touching on accountability and transparency for strong outcomes. Speakers included:
The diverse set of speakers agreed that some postsecondary programs are providing such little value to students - even leaving them worse off than when they started - that they should not be able to offer federal student aid. They also agreed that a robust
accountability program for higher education institutions requires federal capacity and accurate outcomes data, which may be hard to come by because of the massive recent cuts to education research and data collection.
Supporting Students from Immigrant Families
The final panel of the day focused on how shifting federal policies are impacting students from immigrant and mixed-status families. Panelists discussed challenges on the ground and best practices for communication and support.
Attendees then received a comprehensive federal policy update from NCAN’s Policy Team and Alex Nock, Principal at Penn Hill Group.
They were briefed on NCAN’s policy priorities for the 119th Congress, including the need to invest $10 billion in the Pell Grant during reconciliation. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the Pell Grant faces a funding
shortfall of $2.7 billion in this fiscal year. Through reconciliation, Congress plans to make major changes to higher education programs to save up to $350 billion over 10 years. A tiny fraction of those savings could ensure Pell’s solvency for years
to come.
After hearing about NCAN’s policy priorities, participants chose between two breakout tracks:
Policy and Advocacy 101 for students and newcomers
Advanced Policy and Advocacy for seasoned professionals
The day wrapped with a Q&A session featuring James Bergeron, Deputy Undersecretary at the US Department of Education and Acting COO of the Office of Federal
Student Aid, and Aaron Lemon-Strauss, Executive Director of the FAFSA Program. They described several improvements to the FAFSA and process that are underway, including a new,
process for inviting contributors to submit their information that only requires an email address and a plan to automate matching with the Social Security Administration that would eliminate the waiting period between applying for and being approved
for a Federal Student Aid account.
Attendees then connected over drinks and hors d'oeuvres at The Hamilton during the evening reception.
Day Two
The second day began in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building - once home to the Watergate and Titanic hearings. There, NCAN hosted
its Congressional Education Policy Priorities Panel, where senior committee staff shared insights into federal education policy developments and challenges. Speakers included:
Sara Garcia, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Moderated by Catherine Brown, NCAN Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy
Following the panel, NCAN members and students headed to 135 Hill meetings with their Congressional offices. Students and practitioners shared their experiences and advocated for key issues, including increased funding for Pell Grants
and other federal student aid, support for FAFSA simplification and implementation, and continued investments in college access and success.
Attendees also had the opportunity to tour the US Capitol, thanks to the generosity of Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA).
The 2025 NCAN Leadership Summit was more than just a gathering - it was a call to action. Whether in policy discussions, Hill meetings, or informal conversations, attendees demonstrated a deep commitment to student-centered advocacy and making college
accessible and affordable to all those who want to pursue it.
NCAN extends our sincere thanks to all panelists, students, and members who made this event a success. Your leadership and passion are what make this network strong.
Select presentation slides and session materials are available on the Summit web page.
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