Encouraging Advocacy in Support of Federal Student Aid

March 22, 2022

To kick off DC Virtual Advocacy Day at NYU this year, Viviana Gonzalez, Legislative Assistant for Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Natalie Hidalgo, CIO at NYU Steinhardt, in conversation with Steve Heuer, NYU Associate Vice President of Government Affairs, spoke about the importance of federal student aid programs. Both Hidalgo and Gonzalez are NYU Alumni, and shared the impact federal student aid programs had on their undergraduate experiences and how student aid got them to where they are today.

The panelists discussed why advocacy is essential, how a congressional office responds to advocacy requests, and what students can do to amplify their voices in support of federal student aid programs. Attendees received background information on these programs, such as the Pell Grant and Federal Work Study and learned why advocacy for these programs are so important to students today.

This program was sponsored by the NYU Office of Government Affairs, and was moderated by two NYU Washington, DC leadership students Peirong Li and Ginele Tanis.

Viviana Gonzalez

Steve Heuer

Natalie Hidalgo

Peirong Li

Ginele Tanis

Viviana Gonzalez, Legislative Assistant for Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Viviana Gonzalez is a Legislative Assistant in Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office, leading the Senator’s Judiciary and Homeland Security portfolio. She has been with Senator Duckworth since she graduated from NYU in 2018. While at NYU, Viviana studied Politics & Social and Cultural Analysis and was deeply involved in immigration organizing on campus. She also studied at NYU DC during the spring of 2016. Viviana is originally from the suburbs of Chicago.

Steve Heuer, NYU Associate Vice President of Government Affairs

Steve Heuer has worked for New York University (NYU) for the past 16 years, currently serving as Associate Vice President, Government Affairs representing the university’s policy interests at the city, state and federal level. Prior to joining NYU, Steve spent eight years on Capitol Hill, working for U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) and as Legislative Director and Washington Director for U.S. Rep. Bill Luther (D-MN).

Natalie Hidalgo, CIO at NYU Steinhardt

Natalie Hidalgo (she/her), a native New Yorker, recently joined NYU Steinhardt as Chief Information Officer. Natalie grew up reading and playing video games in East Harlem and often still plays online with her older brother. With a genuine curiosity for how things work, Natalie earned her BA in Psychology at NYU and later completed graduate-level coursework in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This background has greatly influenced her collaborative approach to developing solutions in technology with the clients and community. Natalie enjoys travel, pizza, cycling, and spending time with her cat, Bruce (named after Bruce Wayne).

Peirong Li, NYU Washington, DC Leadership Student

Peirong Li is a sophomore from NYU Shanghai majoring in economics and political science. He is currently studying at NYU Washington, DC and diving into U.S. foreign policy, the Constitution, and public policy. He is also interning at the Brademas Center of NYU and volunteering at the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center. Peirong is from Beijing, China.

Ginele Tanis, NYU Washington, DC Leadership Student

Ginele Tanis is currently a senior majoring in Game Design and minoring in Computer Science and Mathematics at the NYU Washington Square Park campus where they are also Event Manager for Tisch’s Black Student Council. They are currently studying at NYU DC for the Global Leadership Program and volunteering at Hunter College Food Policy Center.