Ask Your Advisor
August 25, 2026
Background
NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, has partnered with Lumina Foundation to launch “Ask Your Advisor”, a practitioner-centered campaign designed to amplify the expertise of advisors and position them as influential voices in national conversations on student success.
Academic advising is among the most impactful interventions available to support student success, yet advisors remain largely absent from the policy and research conversations that shape the field. “Ask Your Advisor” aims to change this by elevating advisor voices, experiences, and evidence-based practices. By creating opportunities for advisors to share their perspectives, they will develop as communications leaders and campus change agents.
This work is grounded in Lumina Foundation's Goal 2040, which calls for 75 percent of adults in the U.S. labor force to hold a college degree or other credential of value leading to economic prosperity by the year 2040. Academic advisors play a critical role in helping students persist toward and complete those credentials, making their expertise essential to reaching this goal.
Beginning with a social media campaign in September of 2026, NASPA and Lumina Foundation will highlight promising practices and promote an application to select a cohort of advisors to engage in a semester-long project. Selected advisors will help produce a suite of narrative assets grounded in evidence-based advising principles, including video storytelling, co-authored blog posts, and conference presentations. Additionally, participants will receive training and support to develop their communications skills and translate their daily practice into narratives that resonate with campus leaders, policymakers, and the public.
Why this Work Matters
Advisors have a unique view of the student experience. Through their daily work, they see how institutional policies, practices, and systems impact students who are navigating college and pursuing their goals. Their firsthand expertise provides valuable insight into what is working, where barriers remain, and how institutions can better support student success. However, advisors are not consistently included in institution-wide decision-making processes. This campaign and fellowship aims to center advisors by both advocating for their inclusion in policy and research conversations and providing the opportunity for 15 individual advisors to be publicly recognized for their individual contributions to student success.
About
#AskYourAdvisor will elevate the voices and visibility of advisors and help shift how institutions, policymakers, and the public understand how advising drives student success outcomes. Through a coordinated social media and storytelling campaign, #AskYourAdvisor will highlight advisor expertise, experiences, and evidence-based advising practices.
Call for Applications
NASPA is seeking applications from advisors who have served in the field for at least five years, have experience leading student-centered institutional change activities, and demonstrate use of evidence-based advising practices.
Benefits for Selected Advisors
Fifteen selected individuals receive communications and storytelling professional development support to help translate their day-to-day practice, experiences, and expertise into compelling narratives for a range of audiences.
Each advisor will receive:
- $2,000 to attend and present at one national conference of their choosing.
- Support to travel to, attend, and present at NASPA's Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education (SSHE), June 17-19, 2027, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- A wireless microphone and desk light to enhance virtual storytelling.
- Opportunities to engage with national advising experts.
- Access to an estimated $5,000 in communications professional development.
- The opportunity to shape the national narrative on advising by demonstrating their expertise in video and written content, and
- The opportunity to apply for $3,000 - $5,000 of funding to lead an advising-related project at their home institution.
Selected applicants commit to:
- Managing the individual and institutional engagement of the project.
- Produce a video showcasing their implementation of an advising best practice.
- Attending monthly virtual meetings and trainings (anticipated commitment of five hours per month).
- Traveling to, attend, and present at NASPA's Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education (SSHE), June 17-19, 2027, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- Developing a campus project idea to pitch for future funding, to be presented at the SSHE conference.
- Participating in campaign video recordings as requested, including working with a videographer during the SSHE conference.
- Identifying and attending one additional conference with provided funds in the time period and producing content related to that experience.
- Engaging in communications activities, including storytelling, panels, blogs, and other amplification opportunities.
- Reviewing and providing feedback on Advising Success Network materials.
Eligibility
- Be employed full-time at an accredited U.S. higher education institution.
- Currently serve as an advisor. NASPA defines advisors as those who engage in student advising, mentorship and coaching. This includes primary-role advisors, faculty with advising responsibilities, student success coaches, and others who provide academic, career, and financial advising and connect students to student support services.
- Demonstrate experience supporting student success and promoting equitable student outcomes.
- Be available to participate in all required fellowship activities from January–June, 2027.
Applications Close October 30, 2026
Timeline & Activities
- Applications Open: August 31, 2026
- Applications Due: October 30, 2026
- Selected Participants Notified: November 16, 2026
- Fellows Kickoff Meeting: December 15, 2026
- Advisors submit videos showcasing institutional practices: December 2026
- Fellows meet monthly to engage in professional development sessions: January - June, 2027
- NASPA's Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education (SSHE), June 17-19, 2027, in Indianapolis, Indiana
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
The #AskYourAdvisor Fellowship is open to full-time professionals employed at accredited U.S. higher education institutions who work in academic advising or a related student support role. Selected applicants will demonstrate experience supporting student success and advancing equitable outcomes for students.
NASPA defines advisors as those who engage in student advising, mentorship and coaching. This includes primary-role advisors, faculty with advising responsibilities, student success coaches, and others who provide academic, career, and financial advising and connect students to student support services
What is the purpose of the fellowship?
To elevate the voices and visibility of advisors; the project aims to shift how institutions, policymakers, and the public understand how advising drives student success outcomes.
What is the expected time commitment?
The fellowship requires an estimated five hours per month from January, 2026 through June, 2026, which will include submitting video recordings, attending monthly virtual sessions, participating with peers in professional development activities, and participating in one in-person convening.
Is there an In-person component?
Yes. Fellows are expected to attend one in-person convening of their choosing during the fellowship. Fellows are also expected to attend and present at NASPA’s Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education (SSHE), June 17-19, 2027, in Indianapolis. Additional travel information will be shared with selected participants.
Will my institution need to support my participation?
Yes. Selected fellows are expected to have institutional support to participate in fellowship activities. Finalists will be asked to provide an institutional endorsement confirming their ability to fully participate.