Page 3

Eddy Conroy 

Senior Director, Communications

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Edward (Eddy) Conroy is the National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN's) inaugural Senior Director, Communications. In this role, Conroy leads strategic communications, focusing on promoting NCAN's policy priorities, crafting messaging ensuring the organization is a leading voice in shaping college access and success policies, and ensuring that the needs of underserved students are front and center in policy conversations.

Conroy is an experienced higher education leader, researcher, and advocate for students. He has more than a decade of experience in roles spanning federal policy and advocacy, communications and outreach, direct student service, research, and institutional technical assistance.

Conroy most recently served as a Senior Policy Manager with New America's Higher Education Policy Program, where he led work to advance federal policy to support parenting students, improve financial aid offers, accreditation, and accountability in higher education.

Prior to joining New America, Conroy held multiple positions at the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, including Associate Director for Research Communications, and Associate Director for Institutional Transformation.

He started his career as a financial aid administrator, running outreach and communications for the University of California Los Angeles’ Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, and as a Financial Aid Counselor at Vanguard University.

Conroy was fortunate to have attended tuition-free public institutions in Scotland, where he received a master's degree in political science and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Glasgow.

Conroy lives in Virginia with his partner, step kids, and a menagerie of two dogs and three cats. When he is not focused on being a higher education nerd, he can be found mountain biking, making good cocktails, and cooking for friends.