Last January, our Chief Program Officer, Rachel Livingston, was appointed to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) 2025 Advisory Task Force. Through this national network, Rachel brought the lived experiences of our students into the rooms where decisions are made, standing boldly for education equity and representing students from under-resourced communities across Los Angeles. Her commitment shows up everywhere, from supporting students locally in LA to advocating for them in Washington, D.C. at the Inaugural Leadership Summit.
We’re excited to share that in 2026, NCAN has asked Rachel to return for a second year of service, a reflection of both her leadership and the importance of Fulfillment Fund’s voice in these national conversations.
Bringing Students’ Stories to the Table
As Fulfillment Fund’s representative on the NCAN task force, Rachel brings real student experiences into spaces often filled primarily with policymakers, higher-education leaders, and other organizations.
This past September, Rachel was selected to present at the NCAN Leadership Summit, where she shared our work with Los Angeles City College and how we support community college students not just in getting to college, but in staying and succeeding once they’re there. That visibility matters. It helps ensure that decisions about financial aid and student support are informed by someone who works alongside students every day.
Why This Work Matters Now
Through the task force, Rachel has helped shape important conversations around proposed changes to the Pell Grant, student loan repayment policies, and financial aid systems that directly affect students’ ability to access and complete college.
There has also been encouraging progress. This year’s FAFSA rollout was noticeably smoother, in part because organizations like NCAN continue to elevate student and family voices directly to the U.S. Department of Education.
At Fulfillment Fund, we see firsthand how policy decisions show up in real life for our students. As we shared in our blog New Budget, Bigger Barriers, changes to programs like the Pell Grant risk creating even more obstacles for students who are already navigating financial insecurity, family responsibilities, and systemic inequities.
Advocacy like this helps ensure students are not navigating these shifts alone, while also ensuring their realities are shaping the policies intended to serve them.
Looking Ahead
Rachel’s continued leadership with NCAN reflects Fulfillment Fund’s long-term commitment to advocacy alongside direct student support. While our students may not always have the opportunity to sit at national policy tables themselves, their stories are still being carried into those spaces.
Because when student voices are centered, policies become more equitable and pathways to opportunity become clearer for everyone.
