Washington Update: September 2026

Christina West is NACUBO’s senior director of government affairs and business policy where she is a key leader on the association’s federal policy and advocacy efforts related to tax, research, and immigration policies. Christina has a deep background at the intersection of higher education and policy, having spent nearly 20 years leading Vanderbilt University’s Office of Federal Relations. She  served in leadership roles in several higher education associations including as vice chair and chair of the Association of American Universities' Council on Federal Relations and on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. She also worked for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and started her career on Capitol Hill in the office of former Representative Bob Clement, D-Tenn.  

Liz LaPolt Clark is vice president for policy and research at NACUBO and a member of the NACUBO executive leadership group. She has been widely quoted in the press and is a sought-after speaker on how Washington politics and federal policies impact higher education. Clark got her start on Capitol Hill opening Cornell University's first Washington, DC-based federal relations office. Also in her career, she has led federal affairs for the State University of New York (SUNY) System and for Oregon State University. At NACUBO, she heads the team responsible for analysis of federal regulatory and legislative actions, research, and communications.

Bryan Dickson is director of education policy at the National Association of Colleges and University Business Officers. He serves as an advocate and strategist on federal higher education finance policy, with a focus on federal student aid administration and issues affecting access, affordability, and institutional financial operations. 

In his role Bryan monitors and interprets legislative and regulatory developments, providing strategic analysis and practical guidance to NACUBO members. He works closely with institutional leaders to assess policy impact, supports member engagement through councils and committees, and helps align NACUBO’s educational programming with emerging federal policies. 

Bryan joined NACUBO in 2008 and holds a bachelor's degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.