What impact do you hope to have on higher education policy?
My primary goal in higher education policy discourse is to bridge the gap between impactful legislation and public awareness, ensuring that life-changing opportunities are never lost to a lack of information. State programs like tuition-free community college and full-tuition guarantees at major universities represent monumental progress, but policy only succeeds when the people it is designed to help actually know it exists. By pushing for centralized guidance, clearer communication, and streamlined pathways, I hope to ensure that financial aid and credit transfer systems remain simple, transparent, and universally understood by every student and adult learner.
Equally important is institutionalizing seamless transitions, such as statewide transfer agreements, so that a student’s hard work always counts toward their final degree. Higher education policy should not end when a bill is signed; it must extend into the high schools, community centers, and financial aid offices where students make decisions about their futures. By keeping accessibility, transparency, and practical outreach at the heart of the policy conversation, I aim to help build an educational ecosystem where financial background and complex bureaucracy are no longer barriers to earning a college degree.
What’s one thing people should know about higher education in Michigan?
In my experience, pursuing a college degree in Michigan is much more affordable than many people think. Through state programs like the Michigan Community College Guarantee and Michigan Reconnect, recent high school graduates and adults 21 and older can attend their local community college tuition-free. On top of that, several major universities in the state offer full-tuition guarantees for lower and middle income families.
Transferring credits is also easy. Under the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), you can complete 30 credit hours of general education classes at a community college and move those credits straight toward a bachelor’s degree at a four-year university.
The biggest problem is that many people simply don’t know these programs exist, where to search for details, or who to ask for help. Sharing this information and pointing people toward high school advisors and college financial aid offices can help more Michigan residents get a degree. The help is out here if you truly are serious about pursuing a higher education here in Michigan.
