COABE has selected activists and leaders to champion the cause of adult education WIOA Title II programs. The State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship (SAAEF) is a hands-on advocacy training program for adult educators, adult learners, and friends of adult education. During the yearlong program, fellows are learning how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change benefiting adult learners and adult education programs.

The Fellowship kicked off in March 2021 with remote orientation, advocacy training, and action items. After receiving coaching and inspiration, fellows will meet with Members of Congress, governors, and their staff.

Meet the SAAEF Fellows

 

Alabama

Shelby Luna    
Northwest-Shoals Community College

Alaska          

Alaska Adult Education Association   

Arizona        

Sara Haghighi 
Pima Community College

Arkansas     

Kathleen Dorn
Fort Smith Adult Education

California    

Diana Arellano
Sweetwater Union High School District-Adult Division, Chula Vista Adult School

Robert Lynch  
Tri-Community Adult School

District of Columbia       

Dirk Keaton    
So Others Might Eat Center for Employment Training

Florida

Susan Milstead Winters         
Escambia County School District

Hawaii          

Chad H. Okinaka        
Waipahu Community School for Adults Hilo and Kona Campuses

Illinois         

Erin Vobornik 
Elgin Community College

Indiana        

Jennifer Wigginton    
IAACE

Iowa  

Jennifer Doke-Kerns   
Des Moines Area Community College

Kansas

Donna Munsch
Salina Adult Education Center

Kentucky     

Erron Prickett 
Jefferson Community and Technical College Skills U

Louisiana     

Connor Chauveaux 
South Louisiana Community College

Maine          

Catherine Giuffre-Renaud     
Windham Raymond Adult Education

Michigan     

Tammy Brown
Troy Continuing Education

Mississippi

Shanna Cole   
NEMCC

Bronwyn Robertson   
Mississippi Community College Board

Missouri      

Autumn Burton
Literacy KC

Nebraska    

Natasha I Gonzalez    
Central Community College

Nevada        

Angela Holt      
Western Nevada College – ACCEL

New Jersey

Peg Gould       
Mercer County Community College

New Mexico         

Michelle Ribeiro        
Adult Education Division, New Mexico Higher Education Department

Jamie Trujillo
Albuquerque Adult Learning Center, Inc.

New York   

Lisa A Lee       
Literacy West NY, Inc.

Ohio 

Salome Harris
Cuyahoga Community College Aspire Program

Oklahoma   

Paula A Elliot  
ORO Development Corporation HEP Program

Oregon

Cybele Higgins
Lane Community College

Pennsylvania         

Marcus Hall    
Community Learning Center

South Carolina     

Yvottonne Renee’ Rivers       
Dorchester County Adult Education

Tennessee  

Alex Beene     
Tennessee Adult Education

Texas

Jacqueline Aguilera   
Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy – Houston

Audrey A. Nelson 
College of the Mainland

Utah  

Joshua Bell     
Horizonte Instruction and Training Center

Vermont      

Katherine Stamper     
Vermont Adult Learning Inc

Washington

Richard T. Cowan       
Centralia College

West Virginia        

Beth Rehberger
Jefferson County Schools

Wisconsin   

Lori Koenig   
Wisconsin DOC