Advocating for Higher Education: Dr. Kasi Lacey Makes Meets Sen. Blunt and Others at NAICU Convention

Vice President and Dean of Student Life Dr. Kasi Lacey, second from left, recently attended the 2022 National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) annual convention in Washington, DC.

The four-day event involved meeting senators and legislators, including U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, pictured next to Lacey.

The conference also included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant, a discussion of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, and a presentation on the effects of COVID-19 on college student mental health.

Lacey said that attending the NAICU convention was beneficial for her personally and for Westminster as a whole. The experience allowed her to connect with other institutions of higher learning and come up with solutions to shared challenges.

During the conference, Lacey and her peers expressed their gratitude to a variety of government officials for their support during the pandemic.

Many shared stories of how funding specifically impacted their ability to mitigate and respond to COVID-related obstacles, Lacey said.

“Westminster College’s membership with NAICU demonstrates our commitment to community relations,” she added. “In working with our government officials, we can better advocate for higher education and the needs of our students.”