President Messer joins national leaders making higher education within reach for all students
FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Wesleyan University President Emily Messer has been appointed to the Student Aid Policy Committee of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the national public policy voice of private, nonprofit higher education.
The committee advises NAICU on federal student aid policy and helps guide advocacy for programs such as Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work-Study. Dr. Messer will serve alongside presidents and chancellors from independent colleges and universities across the country.
“Education changes the trajectory of an individual’s life, and often the life of a family,” Dr. Messer said. “Student aid is what makes education possible for so many of our students. I am honored to join colleagues from across the country in making sure every student has an opportunity to pursue their purpose.”
For Texas Wesleyan, the appointment connects a national policy conversation to the students it impacts the most. With 45% of Texas Wesleyan students eligible for the maximum Federal Pell-eligible, access is central to the university’s mission, and its recognition by U.S. News & World Report for social mobility reflects the opportunities Texas Wesleyan creates for its graduates. The university expands its commitment through the Texas Wesleyan Tuition Promise, which allows first-year Texas residents who are fully Pell-eligible to attend the university tuition-free. In addition, every domestic first-year student receives a merit scholarship upon admission.
As president, Dr. Messer has focused on building connections among students, faculty, alumni, employers and community partners in Fort Worth and beyond. Her committee service will carry that work to the national level, bringing the perspective of an affordable, student-centered private university to policy discussions in Washington, D.C., and bringing what she learns back to campus.
“The best ideas in higher education come from many voices working together on behalf of students,” Dr. Messer said. “A college education is one of the most powerful economic engines we have. It creates opportunity for individuals and strengthens entire communities, and I look forward to serving alongside leaders who are committed to ensuring a college pathway is possible for all students.”
NAICU’s policy mission centers on ensuring that student aid programs provide all Americans with access to the college of their choice, promoting tax policy that helps families save and pay for college and seeking appropriate regulation that respects the diversity and independence of private institutions.