The University of Virginia has a new champion in its corner serving as its first full-time federal government relations professional. Julia Smith, who has extensive experience in government relations in Washington, D.C., began her new role as UVA’s executive director of federal government relations and special assistant to the president on Jan. 3.
Smith will work with senior leadership to develop federal legislative strategy and advocate for UVA’s priorities with Congress, the federal administration and associated agencies. She will be based in Washington but will come to Charlottesville regularly.
Smith’s work represents an increased emphasis on federal strategy for UVA. Over the past decade, University leaders have worked with a consulting firm on federal government relations.
“Having a seasoned professional like Julia focused full-time on these efforts as our point person in D.C. will be a big step forward for the University,” said University President Jim Ryan. “I’m thrilled that Julia is bringing her expertise and experience to UVA.”
Most recently, Smith held a similar position with the University of Arizona, opening a Washington office for the school, and led the development of Arizona’s research and higher education priorities, along with promoting academic views on federal policy.
Prior to that post, Smith spent eight years as the assistant vice president for federal relations with the Association of American Universities. That job required her to work closely with leaders from the 62 member universities (including UVA) to develop the association’s positions on federal budget and policy priorities, as well as interacting with key federal science agencies. She represented AAU on the Task Force on American Innovation, a nonpartisan alliance of industry, academia and science advocacy organizations.
“I couldn’t be more enthusiastic to build a federal advocacy strategy that supports UVA’s mission and goals in D.C.,” Smith wrote in an email.
