SACAD Luncheon Speaker
The SACAD board of directors is pleased to announce information regarding its annual membership luncheon. The event will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in Austin, Texas. The session is entitled: “Empowering Community Colleges Through Grassroots Advocacy.” The presentation is described as follows: In today's dynamic policy environment, higher education institutions face growing challenges in advocating for the needs of their students, faculty, and communities. This presentation will explore the critical role grassroots advocacy can play in shaping policy decisions, strengthening relationships with elected officials, and building sustained support for higher education.
The session will focus on state-based initiatives designed to train institutional advocates through professional development and targeted advocacy programs. Attendees will gain insight into best practices for advocacy training, equipping higher education professionals with the skills needed to lead efforts that influence policy decisions and foster lasting change. Key topics will include the fundamentals of grassroots advocacy, with practical strategies to mobilize campus communities, engage diverse stakeholders, and amplify the voices of institutions.
The speaker for the luncheon is Tyson Elbert, the founder and Executive Director of AdvocacyBuild, LLC. Established in 2017 and based in Washington, DC, AdvocacyBuild works with education, philanthropic, nonprofit, and business communities to develop professional development experiences focusing on leadership, policy, networking, and advocacy. Through this work, Mr. Elbert directs state-based Policy Fellows Programs with education partners in Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, and Missouri.
Prior to founding AdvocacyBuild, Mr. Elbert spent nearly two decades working in higher education, including the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University, the Education Policy Center at The University of Alabama, and the Rural Policy Research Institute at The University of Missouri.
Mr. Elbert received his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri, a Master of Public Affairs from the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Mississippi State University.
Mr. Elbert has additional certificates from American University's Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute and European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute programs, as well as the International Comparative Rural Policy Studies program, hosted by a consortium of thirteen international universities. Mr. Elbert also served as a Senior Policy Fellow in the Global Education Policy Fellowship Program hosted by the Institute for Educational Leadership, in partnership with Columbia University’s Teachers College and Michigan State University.
The session is designed for presidents, vice presidents, deans, department heads, and directors in two-year degree granting institutions.
Specific information regarding hotel and room location will be available once SACSCOC assigns all rooms for affiliate organizations.
The SACAD luncheon cost is $40 and interested parties may register and pay by check or by credit card through PayPal. Please make checks payable to SACAD for $40 and send to:
P. O. Box 942
Verona, VA 24482
For more information, please contact Dr. George D. Edwards, SACAD Executive Secretary-Treasurer at gdedwards930@gmail.com or by phone at (606) 424-8867.