A Statewide Gathering to Center the People Who Support Students Every Day
Washington’s Summer 2026 Advising Summit will be a first-of-its-kind statewide convening designed to bring together the many professionals who directly support students across our community and technical colleges.
From academic advisors, career counselors, navigators, and success coaches to Guided Pathways leads and frontline staff—this summit will center the vital roles these individuals play in student success and institutional transformation.
The Summer 2026 Advising Summit will:
Build community across roles and institutions, bridging silos and titles
Elevate the shared commitment to equitable, student-centered advising and support
Align efforts statewide to strengthen Guided Pathways implementation and career-connected learning
Share strategies, tools, and innovations that are making a difference in student outcomes
Honor and invest in the people who make student success possible every day
The Summer 2026 Advising Summit is being shaped by a cross-functional planning committee committed to building a dynamic, inclusive, and practitioner-informed event.
Committee Members
Amunoo Tembo, Policy Associate- Student Success Center, SBCTC (Chair)
Marcus Antonio Gunn, Policy Associate- Student Success Center, SBCTC (chair)
Brook Bane, Program Specialist III- Student Success Center, SBCTC
Pedro Navarrete, Interim Vice President of Student Services- Yakima Valley College, WSSSC
Jose “Tony” Garcia, Dean of Advising, Highline College
Yolonda Williams, Faculty, Tacoma Community College
Dawn Weber, Director of Advising, Olympic College
Tomas Ybarra, Guided Pathways Coach
Christine McMullin, Policy Associate- Student Services, SBCTC
Eduardo Torress, MSSDC Vice President, Edmonds College
Alexander Ivory-Brown, MSSDC, Lower Columbia College
Dawn Draus, Policy Associate, Student Success Center, SBCTC
We are actively working to expand the committee to include:
A student representative
A frontline advisor or success coach
Meeting Schedule
The committee meets twice a month on Wednesdays from 10:00–11:30 AM to co-design the summit’s purpose, structure, and priorities.
Summer 2026 (Exact date and location TBD)
Washington State Community & Technical College System
Check back soon for updates on:
Theme and keynote speakers
Proposal submission deadlines
Registration information
Travel support and accommodations
Student engagement opportunities