On Wednesday, July 31, Student Affairs welcomes leadership from The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) for a lunchtime brown-bag panel discussion on statewide financial aid reform and the possibility of a California Affordability Promise.

Many of the reform proposals are based on UC’s own Education Financing Model, and some include a debt-free path to a bachelor’s degree. Come learn about the proposals, the controversial elements and what might happen next for college affordability in California!

Debbie Cochrane

Panelist: Debbie Cochrane, Executive Vice President, TICAS

Cochrane is an expert on student aid policy and practice, and has testified before state and federal policymakers on topics ranging from access to need-based grants to debt relief for defrauded students. She leads TICAS’ national work on community college issues and its California policy program. Cochrane’s work focuses on financial aid’s relationship to access and success, and practical ways to lower affordability obstacles. Reporters and policymakers frequently cite her research and policy analyses, and she has built statewide coalitions to support strong financial aid programs and better student outcomes.

Laura Szabo-Kubitz

Panelist: Laura Szabo-Kubitz, Associate California Program Director, TICAS

Szabo-Kubitz works on TICAS’ Keeping California’s Promise program on issues involving foster youth, community colleges and student engagement and activism. In the past, she has worked as an educator and in the nonprofit sector, most recently for a student loan guarantor with a mission to make student loans more affordable. Szabo-Kubitz also worked at Aim High, a nonprofit that creates empowering environments for the educational and personal growth of middle school students.

Shawn Brick

Moderator: Shawn Brick, Interim Director, Student Financial Support, UC Office of the President

Brick oversees the implementation of UC’s financial aid policy. His unit focuses on issues of college affordability for undergraduate and graduate students, supporting advocacy and accountability at the federal and state level, and providing support to ancillary financial services for students (e.g., tax reporting, loan collection, etc.). Brick began his UCOP career in Student Financial Support. After briefly working for a nonprofit arts college, he returned to UCOP, where he focused on community college transfers, implementation of new freshmen admissions eligibility and communication with state counselors and advisers. He returned to financial aid in 2015 as associate director.

Join us

What: Brown Bag: Comprehensive California Financial Aid Reform Panel

When: Wednesday, July 31 from 12-1 p.m.

Where: Franklin Lobby 1

This panel is part of a series of “Year of Service” events hosted by the Division of Academic Affairs. These offerings showcase UC’s mission and commitment to public service and are open to all. Stay tuned in Link for upcoming events, from now until October!

Questions? Please contact Shawn Brick.

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