AACTE and College Ave Partnership: Expanding Higher Education Financial Solutions for Future Educato

*AI tools and personal recordings are not permitted. Join AACTE and College Ave in introducing a new partnership designed to better support educator preparation programs, faculty, and aspiring teachers in navigating today’s evolving student loan landscape. As federal student loan policies continue to shift, institutions and students alike face greater uncertainty about funding options, repayment programs, and long-term financial planning. This new partnership provides AACTE members with access to trusted, flexible private student loan solutions and educational resources that complement federal aid — helping bridge funding gaps and provide greater financial clarity for the next generation of educators. During this webinar, you’ll learn the following: • The vision behind the AACTE–College Ave partnership; • How College Ave’s flexible loan options can supplement federal aid; • Exclusive benefits available to AACTE member institutions and their students; and, • Resources to help students and families make informed borrowing decisions. Whether you are a dean, program leader, financial aid professional, or faculty member, this webinar will provide a high-level overview of how this partnership enhances your institution’s ability to support students pursuing careers in education. Presenters: Deb Gossman Head of Campus Development – Central States College Ave Deb Gossman is an experienced professional in the higher education loan services industry with more than eight years at College Ave, a leading private student loan lender. Over the course of her career, she has also held roles at Student Connections, Sallie Mae, and USA Group/USA Funds, developing expertise in student lending, borrower support, and higher education finance. She is passionate about helping students achieve their educational goals and is proud to be part of College Ave’s mission. Gossman earned her degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Jenn Roberts Partner Relationship & Marketing Manager College Ave Jenn Roberts has over 25 years of higher education finance, operations, administration, and regulatory experience. She is a former financial aid director and has worked at top student lending organizations and most recently at Sallie Mae, where she managed the company’s Career Funding book of business. Roberts has a deep understanding of how to market and administer a successful student finance program, a natural ability to map the UX process, a strong gauge for compliance headwinds, and she thrives on finding solutions that improve opportunities for financing access for students and families. Moderator: Marta Perez Drake Chief Strategy Officer AACTE Marta Perez Drake has served the higher education community in a variety of leadership roles for almost 35 years. She has served AACTE in several roles since 2022, where she is currently chief strategy officer. Previously, Drake spent over 15 years at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), where she served as senior vice president. Her career includes programmatic roles at other higher education associations such as the Council of Graduate Schools, the American Council on Education, and the American Association for Higher Education. Drake also held campus-based positions at Duke University and Georgetown University for 10 years. Drake has taught undergraduate-level courses in communication studies at George Mason University. She holds a graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies, completed Georgetown’s Institute for Transformational Leadership certificate program in 2017, and obtained her certification as a health and life coach in 2021. She earned a BA in psychology and art history from Duke University and an MA in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Academic Freedom and the Law: An Encore Presentation

This encore presentation of Academic Freedom and the Law is a part of the Academic Freedom Initiative, created in response to increasing constraints on educator preparation programs and designed to support members in navigating the legal and practical complexities of academic freedom in higher education. This webinar will explore key questions, including how the law protects academic freedom, whether DEI-related policies may be unlawfully discriminatory, and the extent to which universities may regulate speech related to race or gender. Participants may submit questions during registration or during the webinar. Moderator: Anne Tapp-Jaksa, Ph.D. Professor Saginaw Valley State University Past Chair, AACTE Board of Directors Anne Tapp Jaksa is a professor of Teacher Education at Saginaw Valley State University, teaching in both graduate and undergraduate programs in the College of Education. She currently serves as chair of the AACTE Board of Directors and is past chair of the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR) Executive Committee. She previously served as ACSR Midwest Region representative and as president of the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE). Tapp Jaksa is NASA JPL Education’s Educator in Residence and serves on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Board of Directors. She is also Director of Professional Development for the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula and codirector of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design. Her research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration. A frequent national and international presenter, she has published widely and remains active as a board member and volunteer in educational communities, and as Director of the SVSU Center for Experience Research & Design. Her research interests include continuous improvement, STEM, and technology integration. Speakers: David D. Cole, J.D. Professor Georgetown University David Cole is the Honorable George J. Mitchell Professor of Law and Public Policy and the former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (2017–2024). One of the nation’s most influential voices on constitutional law and civil liberties, he brings deep expertise on free speech, equality, national security, and the Supreme Court. A frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books and legal affairs correspondent for The Nation, Cole has published widely in leading academic journals and major national media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. He is the author or editor of ten books, several award-winning, including Enemy Aliens and Less Safe, Less Free. Cole has argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Texas v. Johnson, Bostock v. Clayton County, and National Rifle Association v. Vullo. Renowned for his clarity and insight, he brings legal doctrine to life for diverse audiences. David M. Rabban, J.D. Professor The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law David Rabban is a nationally recognized scholar and authority on free speech, academic freedom, and higher education law. He served for many years as counsel to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and later as its general counsel from 1998 to 2006, followed by chair of the AAUP Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure from 2006 to 2012. He joined the University of Texas School of Law faculty in 1983. His teaching and scholarship focus on the constitutional foundations of free expression, the legal rights of faculty and institutions, and American legal history. He is the author of the award-winning Free Speech in Its Forgotten Years, 1870–1920, and numerous influential articles published in leading law journals, including Yale Law Journal and Stanford Law Review. Professor Rabban’s most recent book, Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right (2024), offers timely insight into current debates shaping higher education today. Caroline Laguerre-Brown, J.D. Principal and CEO Designing Equity, LLC Caroline Laguerre-Brown is the principal and CEO of Designing Equity, LLC, a consulting firm focused on higher education. She brings extensive legal and compliance expertise, particularly in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination policy. Caroline has led the development of institutional policies, educational programs, and risk management strategies for national associations, universities, and corporations. A skilled facilitator, she trains leaders and teams on sexual harassment prevention, unconscious bias, and anti-racism, and supports executives in crisis communication and reputational risk management. Laguerre-Brown previously served as vice provost for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement at George Washington University, overseeing key student-facing departments and leading major reforms to the university’s sexual harassment and diversity policies. Before that, she was Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer at Johns Hopkins University, where she launched essential training initiatives and diversity programs. She serves on multiple national boards and holds degrees from SUNY Binghamton and the University of Virginia School of Law.