Momentum & Barriers Gathers Experts on Value of Higher Education

In late March, the McBee Institute hosted its 2nd annual Momentum and Barriers Symposium. The 2025 theme, "promoting the value of higher education," served as a powerful platform for participants to share insights, identify challenges, and explore new opportunities to reinforce the value of higher education. Building on faculty research projects, doctoral special topics courses, and Institute partnerships, the McBee Institute was honored to host 16 speakers and more than 70 participants to consider student, state, and national perspectives and bolster efforts to strengthen public perceptions of higher education.   

Held at the Richard B. Russell Special Collections Libraries Building, the symposium opened with a welcome from Erik Ness, professor and director of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. As part of the welcome, Ness shared “This event builds on 18 months of deliberation on how we could play a role in promoting the value of higher education. Ultimately, we determined that convening experts from campuses, states, and national organizations was the best approach. Today, we look forward to learning more from their perspectives and to discerning how we can continue our work to promote the value of postsecondary education.”  

The agenda featured three dynamic panels, a keynote lecture, and a closing session aimed at identifying key takeaways and potential collaborations. Structured around differing perspectives on value— student, state, and national—each panel was comprised of leaders and experts from national policy organizations and funding agencies. 

The first panel, focused on student perspectives on the value of higher education, included Jamey Rorison, Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation, alongside McBee faculty members Amy Stich and Robert Toutkoushian. The discussion explored how students perceive the return on investment in higher education and the systemic barriers they face as well as how their perceptions have changed over time. In response to moderator Jennifer Blaney’s question about points of common ground, the panelists cited compelling evidence of economic and non-monetary benefits of higher education. They also cited the need for higher education advocates to continue appealing to the “hearts, minds, and wallets” of students and their families. 

The inaugural James C. Hearn Lecture served as the symposia keynote and was delivered by Laura W. Perna, Vice Provost for Faculty and Graduate School of Education Centennial Presidential Professor of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Her insightful presentation, “Enabling All Students to Realize the Promise of Higher Education,” reinforced many of the insights gained in the first panel session by highlighting the critical role of promise programs in enhancing college access and promoting the value of higher education. Dr. James Hearn shared, “Dr. Perna‘s lecture perfectly fit not only the theme of the Symposium but also the founding goals of the lecture series. I can’t think of anyone better qualified to help policymakers and researchers address the nation's long-standing challenges of higher-education access, equity, and success." 

Panel two explored state perspectives on the value of higher education. Panelists Zakiya Smith Ellis, Principal at EducationCounsel, Steven Gentile, Executive Director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and Kelly McManus, Vice President of Higher Education at Arnold Ventures, examined how state-level policies and leadership can support student success and institutional effectiveness. As leaders of state higher education agencies, Ellis and Gentile shared specific examples of ways to communicate value to the broader public through statewide public awareness campaigns. McManus discussed Arnold Ventures’ commitment to funding evidence-based initiatives that promote value by emphasizing transparency and accountability. 

Anna Stenport, Dean of the UGA Franklin College of Arts & Science, moderated the final panel that focused on national perspectives and led with remarks drawing connections between the student, campus, state, and national contexts and calling for more collaboration across these contexts. The session on national perspectives included three panelists: Robert Anderson, President of the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), Kenneth Redd, Senior Director for Research and Policy Analysis at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), and Katherine Valle-Palacios, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Strada Education Foundation. Their conversation addressed national trends, funding models, and the broader societal implications of higher education. All panelists highlighted the need for better data to inform policy decisions and to allow for empirical analysis. They specifically mentioned the Postsecondary Employment Outcomes Coalition as an example of a national collaborative effort to promote student success and data-driven decision making. 

The symposium’s closing session included reflections by three national experts in higher education research, policy, and leadership. Denisa Gándara, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, identified three key priorities for the future of higher education: broadening understanding, improving communication, and enhancing value. She also highlighted the importance of data—especially student voices. Steve Wrigley, former Chancellor, University System of Georgia, emphasized the need to highlight metrics connecting "going to college to getting a job” and to communicate better and build trust, especially with those who are most critical of higher education. Libby Morris, Zell Miller Distinguished Professor Emerita and University Professor Emerita, delivered the symposium charge with a personal reflection of her gratitude to colleges and universities and their influence on her life and career.  

This year’s Momentum & Barriers symposium was supported again by the University of Georgia’s Office of the Provost and was co-sponsored by the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences. Thanks to these campus partners, the symposium served as an exemplary showcase of the McBee Institute’s commitment to advancing research, policy, and leadership in higher education – while sparking continued dialogue and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.  

Reflecting on the symposium, Erik Ness commented, “The McBee Institute has an important role to play in promoting the value of higher education. Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, fellows, and partners came together for an inspiring event. Now, we are called, collectively and individually, to build on this momentum to examine, demonstrate, and communicate the value of higher education.”