Federal Relations

The University of Chicago’s Office of Federal Relations, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., supports the work of the University by identifying or creating opportunities to promote University interests to the White House, executive branch agencies, members of Congress, and other national opinion leaders and stakeholders.

Areas in which the Office of Federal Relations provides support include science and innovation-related funding and legislation, University of Chicago Medical Center issues, urban-related research and community engagement, national laboratories funding and policy, and international education (Title VI) policy.

How We Help the University

Supporting the University Community

The Office of Federal Relations, part of the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, supports the work of the University community by identifying sources of federal funding, influencing policy debates, and elevating successful University of Chicago initiatives to a national level.

Identifying sources of federal funding

The Office of Federal Relations works with faculty and administrators of the University and federal agencies to identify and develop funding opportunities for faculty and institutes. To serve the University community, our staff meets with relevant agency personnel, coordinates meetings on campus with relevant faculty, and further facilitates contact between faculty and federal partners.

Influencing policy debates

Federal Relations represents the University of Chicago in national policy discussions that bear on key University activities. We are actively engaged in conversations with government officials regarding research, funding, student aid, health care, and other important issues relevant to the University. We also support faculty and students who choose to engage on policy matters, often times preparing faculty testifying on Capitol Hill or University members who are asked to speak before government officials.

Elevating ideas to a national level

Federal Relations works with faculty to raise the profile of the many successful initiatives and research conducted by the University to a national level. We strive to share our discoveries and important research to a national audience so that our work can make a positive impact on other institutions and cities.

Opportunities We Can Facilitate

Participating in advocacy meetings with members of Congress and their staffs
Testifying at congressional hearings and briefings
Joining executive branch advisory groups and task forces
Actively engaging in White House convening
Meeting with opinion leaders in Washington, D.C.
Speaking at national forums
Hosting policymakers and other opinion leaders on campus

Office Facilities

The Office of Federal Relations is open to UChicago students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are visiting Washington, D.C. We have private visitor offices with phones and computers, as well as a conference room that may be used for meetings and events. The main conference room can seat up to 30 people in a boardroom setting or more depending on room set-up. The space is equipped with a video conferencing system and large TV that can be connected to a computer for presentations.

The office building has a rooftop deck with a scenic view that can be reserved for University of Chicago events and functions gratis. Maximum capacity is 200 people. The rooftop space is available for use from April to October, 4-10 p.m., with approval from the building management. The rooftop deck and private visitor facilities can be used for functions consistent with the University’s stated purposes and applicable law.

We can also help with securing venues, catering, and speakers in Washington, with sufficient lead-time.

While we do our best to accommodate all requests, certain periods are busier than others. Please reserve the offices and event space through Kellie Mullarkey well ahead of time when possible. Please contact her at kmullarkey@uchicago.edu or call 202-461-3481.

Visit Us

Office of Federal Relations

1730 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 275
Washington, DC, 20006
202-461-3481
federalrelations@uchicago.edu

Directions from Public Transit
We are less than a five-minute walk from the Farragut West Metro Station, which serves the Blue and Orange lines, and Farragut North which serves the Red Line. From the station, walk south on 17th Street NW toward I Street NW. Turn right at Pennsylvania Ave NW. Our office is on the left.

Find metro schedules and information on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website.

Meet the Team

Trudy Vincent

Senior Associate Vice President for Federal Relations, Office of Federal Relations

Trudy leads the Washington, D.C.-based Office of Federal Relations and represents the University in policy discussions that bear on key University activities, including research funding, student aid, and health care. She also supports faculty and students who engage in policy matters.

Prior to joining the University of Chicago in February 2013, Trudy spent 26 years on Capitol Hill, working for three U.S. Senators, including as chief of staff for Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. Trudy graduated from Duke University and received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Maryland.

Matthew Greenwald

Associate Vice President, Office of Federal Relations

With 25 years of public policy and government relations experience, Matt helps lead the University’s efforts to engage federal policymakers on policy and funding issues impacting university-based science research, higher education, academic medical center policy, and the University’s role in the management of Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the Marine Biological Laboratory. His previous positions include serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Liaison at the Department of Energy during the Clinton Administration, and seven years on the staff of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. Matt has a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a B.A. in economics from Clark University.

Alaina Beverly

Assistant Vice President for Urban Affairs, Office of Federal Relations

Alaina is responsible for sharing the University’s research, scholarship, and models of urban investment with federal policymakers and national partners. She identifies strategic opportunities to advance efforts to enhance the quality of urban life in UChicago’s surrounding South Side neighborhoods, nationally, and across the globe.

An experienced civil rights lawyer, urban advocate and political strategist, Alaina came to the University from The Raben Group, a public policy and advocacy firm in Washington, D.C. She also served as Associate Director for the first-ever White House Office of Urban Affairs during the first term of the Obama Administration. Alaina graduated from Stanford University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Kate Von Holle

Senior Director, Federal Research Development, Office of Federal Relations

Kate reports to the Office of Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., and supports the local, national, and international initiatives of the Office of the Vice President for Research and National Laboratories to promote the University’s research capabilities and accomplishments. She is also responsible for subject matter expertise, analysis, political strategy and advocacy within Congress and the Administration regarding scientific research and technology issues that may arise within NIH, NSF, and other agencies that would potentially affect the University of Chicago.

Kellie Mullarkey

Office Administrator, Office of Federal Relations

Kellie is a graduate of Mary Washington University and has many years experience within administration and higher education. As the office administrator for the Office of Federal Relations, Kellie is responsible for handling all tasks that relate to the operation of the office, assisting staff, and overseeing and organizing special meetings and events held within the University’s Washington D.C. office.