For future fellows, my advice is simple: step outside your comfort zone. Move somewhere new, surround yourself with people and ideas that challenge you, and most importantly, recognize that you’ve earned a seat at the table.” SELI Alumni Spotlight
Amy Holiday A SELI Alum’s Journey: From Classroom to Advocacy
In the summer of 2011, as a junior at Tulane University, I was encouraged by a mentor in the honors program to apply for the Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI). I had always known I wanted to work in education, but I wasn’t sure what that would look like. Studying in New Orleans exposed me to diverse and complex school systems and the incredible educators, families, and communities working tirelessly to support students. SELI presented an opportunity to expand my perspective beyond New Orleans and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping education across the South. During my fellowship at Advancement Project, a social justice think tank in Washington, D.C., I worked alongside some of the fiercest and most committed leaders I have ever met. These attorneys and advocates were dedicated to uplifting students and communities too often left out of critical conversations. Through my research, I saw firsthand that educational leadership takes many forms—you can lead from the front of the classroom, but you can also lead by advocating for policies that create meaningful change. What began as a daunting research assignment evolved into a project that deeply engaged me, reinforcing my commitment to equity in education. The SELI Fellowship is an opportunity to grow, learn, and contribute to the ongoing fight for educational equity. Now serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO of College Board, I carry the lessons I learned during SELI with me every day, shaping the way I approach leadership and advocacy in education.
| ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE |
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