By Will Lipske, Associate University Registrar for Academic Services, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hill Day was a fantastic experience for me. Looking back, I can say that my pre-Hill Day expectation that change can be rapid and overwhelming was validated. I could never have anticipated the news of the Supreme Court decision allowing for massive layoffs within the Department of Education to release as we collectively prepared for our meetings the next day. I am also adding the following to my list of takeaways:
Having prepared talking points and data was incredibly helpful going into our advocacy conversations. But it was often the lived experiences from our local institutions that served as the most effective icebreakers and helped ground our requests in real, relatable context.
While it might be human nature to predict how some conversations might go, you need to be careful, as those assumptions do not always hold true. Some of my more memorable meetings included an unanticipated congressional intern and current student joining in and enriching a conversation with an office, as well as discussing how a policy conversation differs from a political debate and how talking about personalized impacts from the community can advance discussion.
̽»¨Â¥ is truly a remarkable community. At times, the constant change and uncertainty we are experiencing on our campuses and in our field can feel exhausting—and I heard that same fatigue echoed by some of the individuals we met during Hill Day. But then, just as quickly, a spark returns. Whether it’s a colleague sharing a powerful personal story from their institution or explaining the impact of our work in a different light, those moments reignite my passion and remind me why this advocacy and our daily work matter.
Since I returned from Washington, D.C., I was excited to reconnect with Emily Gallagher, a fellow first-time Hill Day attendee, to reflect on and compare our experiences.
While the structure of Emily’s team and schedule was similar to mine, there were notable differences. I was paired with Yasmine Hill, another first-time advocate who works as a Registrar Consultant for the New England Conservatory of Music and lives in Alabama. Together, we held seven meetings spanning two states: Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Throughout our day, we crossed “state lines” and the political aisle.
By contrast, Emily was part of a triad and met exclusively with officials from the state of New York. Although we were all advocating for the same set of issues, our meeting dynamics and approaches varied, which made this conversation with Emily a thoughtful and fun retrospective.
Will Lipske: As you arrived in Washington, D.C. for Hill Day, what were some of the initial thoughts going through your head? How were the meetings you had with the various congressional offices with your group?
Emily Gallagher: When I was exploring colleges to attend, I recall thinking about how different colleges might be by region. I compared those in the Northeast to those in the South. As part of my Hill Day experience, our group met with congressional offices exclusively from New York state throughout the day, which is where I grew up and currently work. My group consisted of Sara Sullivan, Vicki Walker, and me. Vicki works for a university (New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine’s campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas), which is based in New York; however, she resides and works for an institution in Arkansas.
To me, it demonstrates the interconnectedness of our issues and concerns. On Monday, during our preparation day, I was struck by how impressive it was to be among professionals from across the country—from New York to California—all coming together to advocate for the same ̽»¨Â¥-identified priorities.
On Hill Day, we met with six different congressional offices, all from New York, as a team. Since I was from New York, I frequently kicked off the meetings. I wanted to bring a young, relatable approach to the congressional staff members we met. I built rapport and resonated with the various legislative assistants and legislative counsel. I asked about their own college experiences and used that as a bridge to emphasize why we were there—to help ensure that future generations have access to the same opportunities and benefits that higher education provides.
Sara did a fantastic job laying the groundwork by explaining what ̽»¨Â¥ is, who our members are, and what we collectively stand for. Vicki, with her background in both financial aid and registrar roles, was especially well-equipped to discuss the challenges of working with the Department of Education and to advocate for improvements in financial aid access and support.
Will: You mentioned advocacy as a major motivation for joining Hill Day. How did your experience reflect that?
Emily: What I’m leaving with most is a renewed recognition of how essential our daily advocacy for students truly is. Washington, D.C., is a unique and powerful setting for this kind of work, and it felt meaningful to bring our voices there. The ̽»¨Â¥ Government Relations team does a fantastic job of engaging in this work every day and did an excellent job preparing us for the meetings. But ultimately, advocacy isn’t just something that happens on Capitol Hill; it is something we do every day on our campuses.
At Cornell, I engage in student advocacy regularly, working with faculty and administrators to help create a positive and supportive student experience. Hill Day allowed me to take that work to the national level, to share the everyday realities of campus life and student needs with the people shaping policy. We, as Hill Day participants, are the ones most closely connected to the student experience. Without students, none of our institutions would exist. This experience reinforced how powerful it is for these offices to hear directly from us about what students are experiencing and what support they need. Hill Day allowed us to bring those stories to life in a personal and compelling way. That direct connection made all the difference.
Will: When we first connected, you mentioned you studied political science. While I imagine you apply some of that knowledge in your daily work, what was it like to combine your political science background with your professional experience at Cornell as part of Hill Day?
Emily: Hill Day 100% confirmed for me that I want to work in government outreach related to higher education. As a student, I focused on studying education. I knew I liked higher education. As I continue to understand more about the role registrars play in supporting students, I absolutely loved having an opportunity to combine my academic interest with the work I do every day. I never imagined I would be going to Washington, D.C., and doing this work in Congress.
This is what I need and want to be doing. I was inspired by how energized and supportive people outside our usual professional circles were about the advocacy work we were doing. I would encourage anyone even remotely interested in Hill Day to talk to past participants or just apply. If you feel the calling, go for it and apply. Everyone’s perspective matters, and we need to share ours.