Cost elected to National Issues Forums Institute Board of Directors

Hollie Cost, the assistant vice president of Auburn University Outreach and Public Service, has been elected to serve on the board of directors of the National Issues Forums Institute, or NIFI.  

Cost, a three-time Auburn graduate, has established four special education degree tracks, multiple outreach programs and the Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement as a university professor. Cost has also served as a city council member and two-term mayor of Montevallo, where she helped establish community enhancement initiatives focusing on arts, sustainability and education with an emphasis on youth engagement.  

She was elected along with Sara Mehltretter Drury of Wabash College, Jon Gant of North Carolina Central University and Robert C. Richards Jr of the University of Arkansas. 

NIFI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization devoted to promoting deliberation about difficult issues facing the public. Cost along with the other new board members were elected based on their commitment their work in their communities to promote civic engagement.  

“From their significant local work with National Issue Forums, NIFI board members glean valuable insights that can be shared nationwide,” said Betty Knighton, NIFI president. “Hollie, Sara, Jon, and Robert have each inspired deeply impactful civic engagement in their states and we appreciate their willingness to contribute their experiences to the broad national network of NIF practitioners.”