Abigail Seldin

Designed and launched a new foundation focused on access to public services and accountability for abuse of authority. To date, 53% of grant dollars fund projects or organizations led by people of color and 77% of grant dollars fund those led by women. Conceptualized and produced SwiftStudent, “the LegalZoom for college financial aid appeals,” a free tool with 75,000+ unique users since its April 2020 launch. Organized coalition of 20 leading higher education institutions to co-create the tool, including National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), Reach Higher at the Common App, New America Foundation, and Achieving the Dream. Directed the creation of the SHSF Public Transit Map, which assessed public transit accessibility at community colleges across the United States and inspired the bipartisan PATH to College Act. Co-authored SHSF’s report “Sex Trafficking in State-Authorized Massage Schools: A Case Study,” which was featured on the front page of USA Today and prompted an investigation by the House Oversight Committee and the US Department of Education. Sourced and funded a grant portfolio that includes the first research project exploring racial equity challenges in discretionary federal student aid processes (with The Education Trust); documentation of completion efforts by defaulted non-completers (with ACCT); and designs for administrative options for addressing basic needs insecurity among college students through existing authority at the US Department of Education (with Student Defense). Engaged Getty Images to generate 1000+ new stock photos to illustrate current demographics of US higher education, with a focus on student life during COVID-19, students with disabilities, students with children. Sourced and funded secondary portfolio of immigration grants to drive state and local oversight for immigration detention practices.