(From left) Nicholas Lujan, California Community Colleges; Miah Moore, Normandale Community College; Kwame Presley, Ferris State University.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today’s Students Coalition (TSC) has launched the Workforce Student Ambassador Fellowship, its second immersive fellowship program, and recently welcomed its first pilot cohort. The fellowship builds on the success of the Student Ambassador Fellowship model, which aims to support student-advocates while expanding their civic leadership skills and deepening their knowledge of federal postsecondary education policy.

In partnership with Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Workforce Student Ambassador Fellowship pilot recognizes the significance of uplifting the experiences of learners in traditional workforce training programs in shaping public policy. The new fellowship is a nine-month opportunity for participants who are either currently enrolled in a workforce training program or recent program graduates.

“When we talk about the experiences that shape postsecondary policy, including students enrolled in short-term programs is proving even more critical in the work we do as a coalition,” said Tanya Ang, executive director of TSC. “We are excited to launch the Workforce Student Ambassador Fellowship, in this dynamic time, as a way to continue the push to prioritize learners and put students at the heart of policymaking.”

The fellows were selected from a highly-competitive pool of applicants from across the U.S. Following in the footsteps of fellowship alumni, student ambassadors will receive training on the federal legislative process and build on their civic engagement skills.

Founded on the principles of commitment to increased access and attainment of higher education for modern learners, federal policy for today’s students, and sustainable change, fellows will elevate the voices of students to help inform policymakers on their experiences in higher education. The fellowship program empowers students interested in pursuing public sector careers and leadership roles through training, mentorship, and professional development, educating them on the political, civic, and operational dimensions of policy work.

“Being part of the fellowship has been such an amazing and motivating experience, especially getting to lift up student voices both locally and nationwide,” Vashti Trujillo, a Colorado State University Pueblo student and fellowship alumnus, said of her experience as a student ambassador.

Meet the Workforce Student Ambassador inaugural class:

The first pilot cohort of TSC Workforce Student Ambassador Fellows runs through September 2026.

Nicholas Lujan is a California community college student and environmental policy advocate focused on aligning ecological systems with public governance. A fourth-generation gold miner turned land restoration practitioner, he combines hands-on mining experience with academic study in environmental science and policy. Through statewide leadership with the Student Senate for California Community Colleges and federal advocacy in Washington, D.C., he explores how regulatory design influences environmental resilience and the ethical treatment of workers.

Miah Moore is a parenting student at Normandale Community College and an artist. Her experiences as a parent in higher education and a student-parent navigator with Campus Compass have helped her develop a well-rounded perspective of parenthood in academia. She aspires to blend her artistic talents and academic accomplishments to push the world toward meaningful change.

Kwame Presley, a rural veteran who served in Afghanistan before enrolling in the country’s postsecondary space, is studying information security and intelligence with a minor in military science at Ferris State University. He plans to establish a cybersecurity consulting firm.

About Today’s Students Coalition
Today’s Students Coalition (TSC) sits at the heart of a diverse group of the nation’s leading policy and advocacy member organizations, affiliates, and student advocates united for impact on federal policy changes that better serve today’s students. The Coalition is dedicated to forging the future of higher education through bipartisan initiatives focused on the needs of modern learners who are working adults, parenting students, military-connected, and first-generation students.