President Mantella showcases REP4 Alliance at Capitol Hill briefing

The REP4 Alliance took center stage in Washington, D.C., July 26 as President Philomena V. Mantella joined leaders from REP4 founding members at the first Unified Day of Advocacy. 

The event, held in the Rayburn House Office Building, brought together elected officials, their staffs and education leaders to learn more about how REP4 is helping transform higher education by empowering high school students to shape their educational journeys.

In attendance with Mantella were President Marlene Tromp (Boise State University, Idaho), Chancellor Terrence Cheng (Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, Connecticut), Director Carin Barber (California State University San Marcos, California), Dean Beth Day-Hairston (Fort Valley State University, Georgia), and Executive Vice President Mary Papazian (Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges), inaugural REP4 executive in residence. 

Mantella met with U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten who represents West Michigan, and other elected officials as they showcased the work being done across the country by REP4 Alliance members. The REP4 leaders held a panel discussion answering questions about REP4, followed by additional discussions led by Sarita E. Brown, co-founder & president of Excelencia in Education; Daniel Williams, president of the Steelcase Foundation; and Hironao Okahana, assistant vice president and executive director of Education Futures Lab at the American Council of Education.

REP4, short for Rapid Education Prototyping for Change, Learners, Community, Equity, is a national alliance founded by GVSU. The alliance provides the opportunity for students from varying backgrounds and disciplines to come together to shape the future of higher education. 

GVSU will host the Midwest Learner Design Summit on July 27-28, bringing together high school students from across the state to learn design thinking principles, which they will use to plan and develop their own ideas to improve access and equity in higher education.