Skip to main content
2026 AIR Forum Main banner
Icon Legend
Back

    Collaborating with Stakeholders

    Speaker Session

    Data-Informed Advocacy in Higher Education: Turning Numbers into Narratives

    Friday, May 29, 2026
    9:00 AM - 9:45 AM East Coast USA Time
    Location: George Washington University
    Institution Type: Other Organizations or offices outside of an institution (e.g. research institute/system office/association)

    Target Audience: Any
    Session Abstract: Colleges face heightened scrutiny on affordability, value, and outcomes. This session equips institutional researchers and effectiveness professionals with practical strategies to turn complex datasets into clear, compelling advocacy tools. Drawing on lessons from work with multiple state associations, the session outlines three core principles of data-informed advocacy: (1) know your audience, (2) start with “why,” and (3) focus only on data that add clarity and impact. How do we framing data points into narratives that resonate with policymakers, community leaders, and trustees.

    Keywords: Data-informed Advocacy, Storytelling with Data, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement