Appointed to serve as the inaugural senior fellow at the Isaacson School for Communication, Arts and Media. The Isaacson School was founded in partnership with Walter Isaacson, former Aspen Institute CEO and CNN chair and blends traditional and cutting-edge disciplines in the creative arts. In this role, I collaborate with the Dean of the Isaacson School to expand the school's strategic partnerships at the local, state and national level to provide students with access to innovative learning and employment opportunities in disciplines including media, communications, graphic design and culinary arts.https://coloradomtn.edu/cmc-news/cmc-appoints-senior-fellow-at-the-isaacson-school-for-communication-arts-and-media/

Visit my Forbes column here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisongriffin/?sh=5139dbfd57c1

Selected as a Governors Fellow for the 2020-2021 year. The Governors Fellowship program inspires Fellows' belief in what government can be, prepares Fellows for opportunities and the right time/approach to serve in the public sector.The Colorado Governors Fellowship Program is a bipartisan leadership program endorsed by Governors Polis, Hickenlooper, Owens and Ritter. The Fellowship Program is delivered in partnership with the University of Colorado - Denver School of Public Affairs, the Governor's Office, with generous support from the Boettcher Foundation and El Pomar Foundation.https://www.livecivico.org/2020-cgfp

Provide legislative and strategic counsel to higher education institutions, organizations, and foundations.Facilitate relationships on behalf of clients, between organizations and policy makers, and across industries with interests in higher education.Co-founder of Radio Higher Ed (www.radiohighered.com), a podcast series that provides credible, current and relevant higher education policy discussions and analysis to policy makers and the public.

Served as the Federal policy liaison for Lumina Foundation for Education, the nation's largest higher education foundation, with an endowment over $1 billion.Served as the project manager to a 7-state national higher education productivity initiative, funded by Lumina Foundation for Education.Supported domestic higher education clients by providing legislative and strategic counsel on a project-by-project basis.Interfaced with Members of Congress, the Administration and federal agencies regarding higher education policy.Authored a public policy paper on Pell Grants for The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Supported national higher education trade associations, state-based higher education initiatives, and education foundations with legislative and strategic counsel.Served as the Federal policy liaison for Lumina Foundation for Education, the nation's largest education foundation, with an endowment over $1 billion.Served as the project manager for an 11-state higher education productivity agenda initiative, funded by Lumina Foundation for Education.Provided research support, policy guidance and project management to higher education clients.Authored public policy papers on accreditation and student loans for The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a public policy paper on student financial aid for foster care youth for the Education Finance Council.

Supported domestic and international higher education clients by providing legislative and strategic counsel.Managed Legislative and Executive Branch relationships on behalf of the firm and its clients.Drafted detail-rich and research-based higher education policy proposals and client documents.

Member of the majority staff legislative team and key staff member on higher education policy issues and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.Drafted legislation, prepared documents for subcommittee and full committee mark-ups, including amendments, talking points, statements and bill summaries.Participated as staff support for field hearings, site visits and roundtable meetings regarding higher education legislation.Provided comprehensive analysis on higher education issues for Members of the House of Representatives, representatives of the Administration and contacts in the broader higher education community.Focused on issues of financial aid, accreditation, minority-serving institutions, international education initiatives, and graduate education.

Monitored, tracked, and analyzed state and federal legislation concerning higher education policy issues and appropriations, including teacher education, welfare, national community service, and international students. Assisted with association preparation for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Produced and disseminated policy-oriented summaries and statements based on association analyses. Synthesized and communicated legislative developments to presidents of member institutions. Served as executive editor for weekly electronic state policy news services, “EdLines” and “LegWork”.Coordinated programmatic elements of annual state relations conference.