PEF's Vice President of College and Career Success Stacy Lightfoot will testify before a U.S. Senate congressional panel on Wednesday, at 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C. She will talk about what kind of guidance and support low income and first-generation college students need to successfully complete a college degree.
Officials said, "Stacy has helped thousands of students on the path to college and career success from her time as a HCDE college, career and guidance counselor to her current position now as our PEF VP of College and Career Success."
In addition, she has served on the board of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling and in 2011 she received the national Counselors That Change Lives award.
Ms. Lightfoot is a member of the National College Access Network.
According to the NCAN website, "As an African American female, Stacy grew up in a low-income, single parent home. Statistics suggested that she would continue to live in poverty, work a low-wage job and not obtain a college degree. However, her mother made sure that throughout her life she was surrounded by trusted adults and positive role models. Her college counselor (Susan Street) helped her research, DePauw University in the cornfields of Greencastle, IN. It was the perfect college for Ms. Lightfoot because it matched her personality and learning style in addition to meeting her family’s financial need.
"Using her personal experience, and the examples of two students – one who graduated from college and one who has debt and no degree – Ms. Lightfoot will suggest to Congress what information and type of guidance first-generation and low-income students need to successfully complete a college degree."