Office of Government Relations and Civic Engagement (GRACE) Team

We help build social capital in the Greater Brookland neighborhood and District of Columbia. We serve as the University’s liaison to our neighbors and the surrounding community, fostering positive two-way relationships with them; promoting community services, programs, and events; and coordinating meetings with District officials, neighborhood groups, and community organizations.

We build relationships with the DC Mayor, Council, and District officials in order to represent the University to them, remain well-versed on legislation that might impact the University, secure funding for University priorities, and foster public-private partnerships.

We cultivate relationships with officials and staff of the U.S. Congress, the White House, and U.S. government departments and agencies in order to represent the University to them and to remain abreast of pending federal legislation, executive decisions, and federal government actions that might impact the University.

Recognizing the critical role that government funding can play in enabling the University to achieve various institutional priorities, we collaborate with a range of University colleagues, members of the University’s Board of Trustees, alumni, public officials, and civic leaders to build relationships and an advocacy network that will represent the University interests.

Given the potential impact of federal and state policies on higher education, we monitor relevant legislative, regulatory, and policy issues, and we advocate the University’s positions on public policy issues to elected and appointed officials.

The Office of Institutional Partnerships (IP) serves as the central point of contact for University faculty, staff, and administrators who want to engage and collaborate with corporations, foundations, and government agencies. We work to advance University programs, departmental initiatives, faculty research, and student success by actively seeking philanthropic and government funding, as well as forming strategic partnerships.

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