Kai Swanson, a 1986 Augustana College alumnus and special assistant to the president of Augustana since 2005, has been named 2023 Advocate of the Year by the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities.
The Rock Island native and active Quad Cities leader was chosen for his “tireless efforts on behalf of students and higher education,” according to the Advocate of the Year resolution. It also said Mr. Swanson — who went to work for Augustana after graduating — “has devoted his career to advocating for students, independent higher education and the public good.”
In addition, the federation wrote: “for over 30 years Kai has generously offered his time, wisdom and advice on higher education policy, directly leading to improvements in need-based funding for students and capital funding that has greatly benefited Federation students and campuses.”
Mr. Swanson also “served as a strategic, insightful and collegial contributor to the Federation’s mission through his work with local, county, state and federal elected officials, college presidents and staff, various statewide interest groups and media outlets,” the federation document said.
Mr. Swanson also recently collected another honor when he was named by Quad Cities Regional Business Journal readers as one of the Most Influential in the Quad Cities in 2023. In addition to his work in higher education, Mr. Swanson also has served as president of the Visit Quad Cities board on which he continues to serve.
He currently represents Rock Island County Board District 15, and in that role also is president of the Rock Island County Forest Preserve Commission.
