The 2024 NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit

The 2024 NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit

The Now and Future of Music Education

By Ben Reyes, NAfME Membership & Collegiate Program Manager
Photos © Ashlee Wilcox Photography, LLC

June 2024 marked the tenth anniversary of the NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit (formerly Collegiate Advocacy Summit) which brought together 82 music education undergraduate and graduate students from around the country for three days of learning from NAfME leaders, advocacy on Capitol Hill, and camaraderie with their colleagues.

Hosted in Reston, Virginia, the Summit kicked off with an icebreaker session focusing on the NAfME Strategic Plan. Attendees collaborated while getting acquainted with one another to later learn from a panel of music education leaders. “It was fantastic hearing about people who are equally as passionate about music,” writes Frostburg State University NAfME Collegiate member Evie Shanholtz. 

The Summit continued with inspiring words and a virtual meet-and-greet with the Collegiate Advisory Council—during which each attendee got the chance to meet with their NAfME division’s council representative. It was the perfect chance for students to learn more about their NAfME division, meet others within those divisions, and discover what the council can do for them as NAfME Collegiate members.  

The opening day concluded with a special visit from NAfME President Deb Confredo, NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, and NAfME Immediate Past President Scott Sheehan. Each shared their own story and inspiring message for the future music educators, leaving a lasting impression throughout the rest of the Summit. 

The second day of the Summit included sessions from the President of the California Music Educators Association Chad Zullinger, 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award honoree Annie Ray, and breakout sessions with NAfME Collegiate Advisory Council co-chairs Steve Kelly and Kati Cox, supported by council member Heidi Welch.

New to the 2024 Summit, attendees participated in numerous NAfME National Leadership Assembly sessions throughout the afternoon. This involvement allowed NAfME Collegiate members to interact directly with their state and division leadership in cross-state and division meetings, paving the way for lasting professional relationships. 

NAfME Hill Day returned on the final day of the Summit. During this time, all Summit and National Leadership Assembly attendees traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and staffers to advocate for music education at the national level.  

For the majority of the Summit attendees, this was their first time advocating at this level, and it was truly a memorable experience for all! “Seeing the representatives take an active interest in what we had to say was really encouraging that we were doing the right thing,” writes Maleah Wright of the University of South Dakota.   

The 2024 NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit brought together NAfME Collegiate students across 27 states spanning all six of NAfME’s divisions. These three days, the connections, and the passion for advocacy will stay with the attendees for a lifetime. A special thank you to the NAfME National Executive Board and the Collegiate Advisory Council for making this event possible!

“It was a great opportunity to be with other collegiate leaders, and to observe leaders in the field at the National Assembly. It motivated me to be a better leader and invest in my growth as a future teacher.” – Colleen Gorski, Miami University