Wine with Wonks: Meet the Wonks 2023

For the first time in 3 years, Third Way and members of the higher ed community gathered in-person for our signature event, Wine with Wonks: Meet the Wonks, at Jackie DC. The happy hour invited attendees to connect with experts in the field and ask their most pressing questions on higher ed transparency, accountability, affordability, and more. Our wonks included:

• Jared Bass, Senior Director, Higher Education Policy, CAP
• Catherine Brown, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, NCAN
• Dr. Jhenai Chandler, Director of College Completion, TICAS
• Preston Cooper, Senior Fellow for Higher Education, FREOPP
• Michelle Dimino, Deputy Director of Education, Third Way
• Angela Perry, Director, Postsecondary & Workforce Pathways, DQC
• Sarah Sattelmeyer, Project Director, Education, Opportunity, & Mobility, New America
• Satra Taylor, Director of Higher Education and Workforce Policy, Young Invincibles
• Jessica Taketa, Higher Education Manager, Arnold Ventures
• Mamie Voight, President & CEO, Institute of Higher Education Policy

Our wonks and attendees reflected together on the past two years—which have seen significant progress in federal higher education reforms including legislative victories for college completion and retention, and a record amount of student loan forgiveness for the borrowers most in need. They discussed victories, hardships, and what will come next with a split-Congress, new HELP Committee leadership, and competing policy priorities at play.