Spencer Fane was proud to support the 2025 American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors. In addition to the firm serving as a Meeting Partner, attorney Allison Garrett presented at the November 14-17 event in Nashville, Tennessee.
As part of the AASCU’s mission to shape public policy, strengthen state college and university leaders, and expand student access and success, the Conference provides rich programming and networking opportunities for higher education leaders. Allison joined the November 16 session, Higher Education at a Crossroads: Navigating a Shifting Political, Economic and Social Landscape. She and her fellow panelists explored strategies for leaders navigating a rapidly evolving higher education environment influenced by economic pressures, political dynamics, and shifting societal expectations. Opening with a timely update from AASCU’s government relations team on key legislative developments and federal actions, the session offered fresh perspectives and actionable tools to help inform presidential decision-making in this moment of transformation.
At the firm, Allison plays a critical role in the firm’s higher education practice, resolving complex regulatory, administrative, operational, and transactional issues specific to public and private universities. Supported by a decadeslong track record of success in legal, educational, and leadership roles, she has held prominent positions in government, at a multinational retail corporation, and at the highest levels of several higher education institutions. Most recently, she lent her extensive educational experience to the Fullbright Specialist Program and completed a project at Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities.