2019-2020 Committee Chairs
Joseph Freeman
Beacon Academy
jfreeman@beaconacademyil.org
Evan Wilson
Illinois College
evan.wilson@mail.ic.edu
Emily Tabeek
Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
etabeek@siu.edu
Executive Board Liaison
Member Relations Council Team
Paul Welsh, NACAC Delegate Director – Secondary
Fenton High School
welsh@fenton100.org
Purpose
The purpose of the Government Relations Committee is to inform IACAC members of pertinent public policy issues and upcoming legislation that affects counselors and students. Government Relations members also promote the goals of IACAC to government officials at the local, state, and federal level.
Activities
The Government Relations Committee meets three times per year in addition to a trip to Springfield, where we meet with legislators to discuss current education issues. We also host a session at the IACAC Annual Conference in May.
Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs following his address to the 2017 IACAC Annual Conference. Pictured with members of the Government Relations Committee.
Left to right: Steve Landgraf, Michigan State University; Jeremy Holmes, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Jennifer Steck, Saint Louis University; Joe Freeman, Beacon Academy, Stephanie Szczepanski, Saint Louis University; Evan Wilson, Illinois College; Gwen Kanelos, Concordia University Chicago, Bob Freitag, St. Charles North High School; Paul Welsh, Fenton High School; Jennifer Sloan, Cornell College; Roberto Suarez, Homewood-Flossmoor High School; Michelle Rogers, Saint Louis University.
IACAC members met with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois’ 8th District, during their to visit Capitol Hill on February 26, 2018, to advocate for Illinois students as a part of NACAC Hill Day.
Left to right: Steve Landgraf, Michigan State University; Joe Freeman, Beacon Academy; Kylie Mussay, University of St. Francis; Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi; Jennifer Sloan, University of Cincinnati; Roberto Suarez, Homewood-Flossmoor High School; Patrick Walsh, Illinois State University
Members of IACAC at the Illinois State Capitol for a day of meetings with legislators on March 7, 2018 for Advocacy Day.
Meetings
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
I want to support the efforts of the Government Relations Committee, but I am unable to attend meetings or participate in the lobbying trip to Springfield, what can I do?
The easiest thing you can do is to use the NACAC’s Legislative Action Center. From here, you can search for current state and national legislation that will affect you and your students and make use of pre-written letters to sign and email to your current legislators.
I would like to know more about issues in education and college access, where can I find more information?
NACAC’s Government Relations website maintains a list of the latest developments in legislation of interest to the National Membership. At the State Legislation Portal you can search more in-depth on Illinois Issues as well as topical issues. Also, NACAC’s Policy Recommendations page outlines many current policies and links to research and insights on current trends/issues.
Committee Members
Mary Alice Berg, Loyola University Chicago
Caroline Brunner, Hanover College
Fritz Burgher, Northwestern University
Alejandro Campos, University of St. Francis
Jovanna Chavez, Illinois College
Allison Culver, University of Louisville
Donna Epton, Schaumburg High Schoo, retired
Kaelon Evon, Illinois Institute of Technology
Traci Flowers, Deerfield High School
Demetrius Ford, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Hillary Frakes, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Zachary George, StriveScan
Kathryne Gorsuch, Western Illinois University
Jessie Heinrich, DePaul University
Lisa Hikes, Hinsdale Central High School
Wallace Holder, Grand Valley State University
Marla Johnson, University of Illinois at Springfield
Kristen Kaczynski, North Shore Country Day School
Colin Kalmes, Knox College
Gwen Kanelos, Concordia University Chicago
Jessica King, Bradley University
Meghan Kuhn, Cornell College
Steve Landgraf, Michigan State University
Elisabet Miramontes, University of St. Francis
Diana Mondragon, Dundee-Crown High School
Laura Monteagudo, Northern Illinois University
Bill Morrison, Highland Park High School
Luis Narvaez, Chicago Public Schools
Jaime Newsom, IUPUI
Eileen Rancharan, Concordia University Chicago
Oscar Rodriguez, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jessenia Sanchez, Columbia College – Chicago
Anna Schuh, Saint Louis University
Guiliana Scradina, Roosevelt University
Jennifer Sloan, University of Cincinnati
Scott Smolek, University of Louisville
Jennifer Steck, St. Louis University
Josh Stober, Community Unit District 300
Stephanie Szczepanski, St. Louis University
Emily Tabeek, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Brittany Tierney, Eastern Illinois University
Reshma Valiyapurayil, Northeastern Illinois University
Mark Weber, Maine East High School
Paul Welsh, Fenton High School
Josephine West, The Ohio State University
Keegan White, Lawrence University
Justin Wier, University of Illinois at Chicago