History
Founded in 2019, AM Advising builds on the experience of Andy MacCracken, a national higher education policy leader and expert in student engagement. Andy is co-founder and former Executive Director of National Campus Leadership Council, which has revolutionized how the higher education community and develops student-centric policy.
It’s On Us | Andy helped the Obama White House develop and launch the It’s On Us campaign to address campus sexual assault, activating more than 200 colleges and speaking at the campaign launch. In close coordination with former Vice President Biden’s team, Andy developed a campus engagement strategy that has helped sustain the movement since its 2014 launch.
Defend Our Future | Andy helped the Environmental Defense Fund conceptualize and launch its Millennial engagement arm, Defend Our Future, including three national summits of student leaders and environmental activists at the White House. The initiative has since activated thousands of students on hundreds of targeted campuses to engage in climate action.
Student Voice Index | Andy designed and developed the Student Voice Index, a multi-method research project measuring the influence of students in institutional governance. The project is shaping the future of discourse around student involvement in decision-making, providing objective benchmarks and practical tools to academics, practitioners, and policy-makers alike.
FOUNDER
Andy MacCracken
Andy helps purpose-driven people, projects, and organizations advance their missions through policy research, coalition building, and strategic planning. Current clients include Governor Roy Cooper’s Office of Strategic Partnerships and EducationNC. Most recently, he served as executive director of the National Campus Leadership Council (NCLC), which he co-founded NCLC in 2012 to develop and advance student voice in public policy. Under his leadership, NCLC has provided nonpartisan policy education and skills training to more than 2,200 student body presidents and trustees at 500 colleges nationwide and launched cross-sector strategies to improve student success on key issues, including college affordability, campus safety, student wellness, and job readiness.
He helped the Obama White House launch several key policy initiatives, including including student loan debt, campus sexual assault, closing racial equity gaps, and climate change. Andy had the honor of introducing President Obama when the President took action to support student loan borrowers and speaking at the It’s On Us campaign launch. Andy grew up in Colorado and earned his BA and MPA at American University, where he served as student body president. Andy currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC, and serves on the board of directors for the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle.