Undergraduate student Rusty Henry, a Liberal Studies major in Chapman University’s Attallah College, has been selected to represent the university in the 2026 Independent California Colleges Advocate Program (ICCAP) cohort. Through the six-month program, Henry will complete a professional internship component and participate in ICCAP’s Day in the Capitol in Sacramento. 

As a Liberal Studies major preparing to become an educator, Henry sees a direct connection between his coursework and his work in public policy. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum, combined with fieldwork and classroom observations, has provided him with firsthand insight into the realities facing students and teachers.

“The marriage between preparing to lead a classroom and observing students gives me exposure to many levels of experience,” he said. “My expectations to be a public speaker within the classroom have given me the confidence to have a voice and prepare to bring that voice to lawmakers and people with the power to make the changes necessary for students across the state.”

During ‘Day in the Capitol,’ Henry and his cohort will engage directly with policymakers to discuss pressing issues in higher education. He is especially passionate about advocating for nontraditional students, and individuals who do not attend college immediately after high school and often face additional barriers.

“Students who, for one reason or another, do not attend college immediately following high school can have a more difficult path to success and may struggle with the financial strain of attending college. That is something I feel personally and intend on advocating about because of the importance of supporting students who want a secondary education,” Henry said.

Henry believes the ICCAP experience will shape his future career as a teacher by deepening his understanding of how education policy is formed and implemented. He also emphasized the value of mentorship at Attallah College.

“I have a large group of faculty and staff who inspire me,” he said, naming Dr. Jillian Wood, Dr. Colette O’Bannion and Dean Roxanne Greitz Miller. “Through conversations, classes and interactions with them, I have gain valuable insight, guidance and inspiration for how to make the strongest impact, use my voice and make every effort to be as involved as I can be as a future educator.”