2025 NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit

The 2025 NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit

Sound Advocacy, Music Matters

By Ben Reyes, NAfME Membership Manager

The 2025 NAfME Collegiate Leadership Summit returned this year for another three days filled with advocacy and leadership sessions, professional networking with others from around the country, and a one-of-a-kind experience advocating for music education on Capitol Hill. Held in Reston, Virginia, from June 9-11, 2025, this year’s Summit brought together 101 NAfME Collegiate members from nearly 60 institutions of higher education and was led by co-chairs of the NAfME Collegiate Advisory Council Kati Cox and Steve Kelly.

Attendees ranged from underclassmen to just-graduated seniors and involved ten guest speakers on topics ranging from job interview preparation to storytelling and more. The event took place concurrently with the National Association for Music Education’s annual National Leadership Assembly. This gathering of music education leaders from around the country presented unique opportunities for Summit attendees to network, attend working sessions, and become integrated with all components of the National Leadership Assembly.

Anne M. Fennell addresses collegiates in June 2025

The three days concluded with a trip to Capitol Hill where Summit attendees joined their state’s delegation to meet with federal legislators to advocate for music education. Attendees were prepped with knowledge of federal legislation that would impact music education at the federal level, and crafted stories of their own experience with the profession to share with their representatives.

Hill Day 2025 visit to Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina

A special thank you to the NAfME National Executive Board and the Collegiate Advisory Council for their support of the NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit.

2025 Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit attendee standing and speaking

Please enjoy the recap video below of this year’s event and contact collegiate@nafme.org with questions about the NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit. Visit the NAfME Collegiate webpage for additional information about the NAfME Collegiate program.