柑橘直播

As future leaders in education, Drew Doughan 鈥�25 MA and Nicole Roldan 鈥�25 MA know they have a responsibility to positively shape the success of students. In many ways, the future of education is in their hands鈥攁nd in the hands of their peers鈥攚hich is why an opportunity to engage with federal agency officials and members of Congress to discuss issues impacting U.S. graduate education was so crucial for the pair.

Doughan and Roldan participated in the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) Advocacy Day on April 23 and 24. They were joined by Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as students and graduate deans from Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh, among others.

Their meetings ranged from large bipartisan discussions with Senate committees to smaller, localized talks with Pennsylvania representatives. Both students noted how receptive many lawmakers were鈥攑articularly when they shared personal stories and data about how federal policies directly impact graduate students.

鈥淔or me, education is a means to further oneself and serve the common good and better the lives of our communities,鈥� says Roldan, who is pursuing her master鈥檚 in education. 鈥淓ducation at the graduate level, specifically, means access to these opportunities. Research is a means to better our lives and of our community members. And to advocate for graduate education and research means that we are also advocating for the opportunities and pathways of our students鈥攂oth current and future鈥攖o participate and better ourselves.鈥�

Doughan and Roldan each attended five meetings, including the Senate Judiciary Committee (Minority) for Doughan and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee (Majority) for Roldan. The 柑橘直播 contingent also participated in meetings with congressional offices including those of Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).

鈥淭hese were rich, meaningful conversations that put a student face to the policies being debated,鈥� says Dr. Woodard, who serves as chair of the CGS Advancement Advisory Committee. 鈥淟awmakers appreciated hearing directly from our students鈥攅specially their personal stories, which brought urgency and clarity to the issues. It was a powerful reminder that advocacy isn鈥檛 just about data; it鈥檚 about people. Our students helped demonstrate why continued investment in graduate education matters, not just for individuals, but for the future of our communities.鈥�

For Doughan and Roldan, the experience was both deeply personal and professionally formative.

鈥淥ne of my goals for graduate school was to learn how to advocate for change,鈥� says Doughan, who is teaching in the School District of Philadelphia this fall after earning his master鈥檚 degree in education policy from 柑橘直播. 鈥淭his gave me direct experience in speaking with policymakers about issues I care about.鈥�

Roldan adds, 鈥淧articipating in Advocacy Day was meaningful for me as a graduate student because I could see how policy works. It reaffirmed my goal of integrating policy work into my career while advocating for voices that often go unheard.鈥�

The experience solidified each student's desire to pursue careers that blend education and advocacy. 鈥淎dvocacy doesn鈥檛 happen in a vacuum,鈥� Doughan says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of a multi-dimensional and inherently social process鈥攕omething I plan to keep at the center of my professional journey.鈥�

The Council of Graduate Schools serves to advance graduate education and research in the U.S. and globally. It supports that mission through advocacy in the policy arena, innovative research, and the development and dissemination of best practices, according to its website.