WACUBO 2025 General Session | Washington Update

Monday, May 5 | 2:45 - 4:15 PM

Recent political swings—and resulting policy shifts—in Washington are demanding active engagement in advocacy, policy monitoring, and new approaches in campus business office planning. Federal courts are now involved in numerous issues impacting institutions. There is also a high likelihood of major tax reform legislation moving before the end of 2025. The stakes are high for colleges and universities. This session will underscore the importance of understanding legislative and regulatory changes, advocating for supportive policies, and navigating divisions in Washington.

Liz Clark Liz LaPolt Clark is Vice President for Policy and Research at NACUBO and a member of the NACUBO executive leadership group. She has been widely quoted in the press and is a sought-after speaker on how Washington politics and federal policies impact higher education. Liz got her start on Capitol Hill opening Cornell University's first Washington, DC-based federal relations office. Also in her career, she has led federal affairs for the State University of New York (SUNY) System and for Oregon State University. At NACUBO, she heads the team responsible for analysis of federal regulatory and legislative actions, research, and data analytics.

Kara D. Freeman is president and chief executive officer of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO),a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities. A strategic leader with more than three decades of experience in both for-profit and non-profit management, she joined NACUBO in 2023 after serving as senior vice president and operating officer of the American Council on Education (ACE). She serves on the board of directors for Discover Engineering (DiscoverE) and currently chairs its finance, audit, and budget committee. Previously, she has been a board member of EDUCAUSE; the Technology Advisory Council for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); The Training Source, Inc.; and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Information Systems department. Kara earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems from UMBC and an MBA from The George Washington University. She also holds a Certified Association Executive credential from ASAE.