NACAC - Spring 2020 - 24

ADVOCACY

ADVOCACY IN ACTION
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.

PHOTOS © RJMCOX PHOTOGRAPHY AND DAISY KINARD.

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

Johnnie Johnson attends an information session to prepare for Hill Day visits.

24

THE JOURNAL OF

COLLEGE ADMISSION

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.
NACAC - Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NACAC - Spring 2020
