By Emily Gallagher, Student Services Assistant in the College of Human Ecology Registrar’s Office at Cornell University
When I first heard about 秀色直播’s Hill Day, I hadn’t even been working in higher education for a full year. I was a year out of college, still adjusting to the title “professional,” and unsure if I had anything of value to contribute to national-level conversations on policy and access. But a former colleague nudged me enthusiastically toward applying.
“You should do this,” she said, and I thought, why not? I submitted my application shortly before it was due, still questioning if I was qualified. A few weeks later, I found myself on a Zoom call with Will Lipske from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, preparing to write this very article about our upcoming trip to Capitol Hill.
What followed was not just an interview but a genuine exchange—two people at different stages in their careers, both new to Hill Day, comparing notes on our paths to this moment. Despite the differences in our timelines—Will joined UW–Madison’s registrar’s office over a decade ago and has presented at conferences through 秀色直播—our conversation revealed just how much we shared: a passion for public policy, a commitment to equity in higher education, and a belief that our stories—those of students and staff alike—deserve a place on the Hill.
Our conversation quickly turned to the issues we each hoped to bring with us to Washington.
Emily: Are there any topics that you’ve been thinking about that you want to bring to the table and talk to people about?
Will: Absolutely. I’m passionate about international student support because I think a globalized student body enhances learning for everyone. It impacts research, classroom discussion, institutional budgets—everything. I also care deeply about the broader question of how we continue to make the case for the value of higher education to everyday citizens. We’re seeing skepticism rise, and I think we need to explain clearly and humanely why this work matters to individuals and communities alike.
Emily: What do you think legislators should know about the kind of work we do?
Will: We help students navigate higher education when they don’t always know where to go or who to ask. Registrar professionals sit at the center of so many systems. We coordinate with advising, financial aid, career services, faculty, and more. We’re often the ones connecting the dots when a student hits a wall—whether it’s a credit transfer issue, a degree completion concern, or even a mental health crisis. It’s more than records. It’s advocacy.
Will’s response really stuck with me—and in many ways, it answered another question I had been thinking about:
Do registrar professionals already see themselves as advocates in their day-to-day work? The answer, clearly, is yes.
As Will shared, we help students navigate higher education when they don’t always know where to go or who to ask. He sees our work as a point of connection—linking students with support systems, solving problems others may not even see, and quietly carrying the weight of institutional knowledge and care. It’s more than forms and deadlines. It’s frontline work that shapes outcomes.
What stood out most, though, was Will’s reflection on the “why” behind our work. His advocacy for international students and his insistence on reframing higher education as a public good—not a private transaction—resonated deeply with me. He reminded me that our work touches far more than degree audits and class schedules. It reaches families, drives research, supports global academic exchange, and reinforces the very infrastructure of our communities. What happens in our offices quietly shapes the future, not just for individual students but for the systems they move through and the lives they go on to impact.
By the end of our conversation, what had started as an interview felt more like a moment of reflection—two professionals from different institutions, different life stages, and different corners of the country meeting at a crossroads of purpose. I left that call feeling more prepared, yet also more connected—more certain that, no matter where we are in our careers, we all have something to contribute to the national conversation.
As we prepare to bring our stories to the Hill, I’m reminded that this marks the beginning of a pivotal moment—one of continuous advocacy, learning, and connection.