Fordham University announced last week it will be hiring its first Director of Federal Relations. The position will handle the university’s interactions and strengthen its relationships with the federal government. The position is part of a new team led by inaugural Vice President of External Affairs, Travis Proulx, and will be based in Washington, D.C.
According to the recent posting on Fordham University’s job board, “the Director of Federal Relations leads Fordham University’s engagement with federal government officials and agencies on policy, legislative, and budgetary matters.” The position will report directly to Travis Proulx, holding responsibility for developing advocacy and lobbying strategy, and pursuing federal research funding. The position will also strengthen Fordham’s relationships with elected officials in the nation’s capital.
“The individual will be Fordham’s ‘boots on the ground’ in D.C.,” said Proulx. “With President Tetlow’s team, the director will advocate for actions and policies that further our mission and serve the best interests of the university community.”
Proulx also described how having someone stationed at the nation’s capital will be critical to strengthening the process of direct communication between Fordham and the White House.
“They will be our eyes, ears, and strategist on advancing policies that benefit students, faculty, and staff,” said Proulx. It is important for President Tania Tetlow’s cabinet to work in tandem with the U.S. Government.
“The director will also collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners in pursuit of research funds, and in other measures that elevate Fordham’s presence with decision-makers, and increase Fordham’s overall impact,” said Proulx. “The Center for Community Engaged Learning is leading on community partnerships that give students hands-on experience, and a wide range of events and initiatives. Government Relations is in the thick of things organizing student advocacy and working to secure new funding from city, state, and federal government.”
The position comes to fill a void in Fordham’s administration. “Bill Colona was recently promoted from government relations to a role in the Provost’s Office which resulted in a vacancy,” said Proulx. “Before filling this vacancy, we stepped back to consider how to strategically invest limited resources.”
Finding a qualified candidate is important to not just Proulx’s office, but the cabinet as well.
While Fordham is not the first university to implement a Director of Federal Relations, it stands out to ensure universal professionalism in New York City. On the West Coast, Camille Hosman serves as Stanford University’s Director of Federal Government Affairs and is also based in Washington, D.C. in order to assist in their White House communications efforts.
Continuing to expand the External Relations department is also a central focus of Tetlow’s Cabinet, which is why they have begun coordinating a new workforce development center on Fordham Road. More information on this will become available in the future. For now, Proulx promises the university is striving to learn and grow in everything it does.
“Our immediate objectives are to listen and learn, to collaborate, and to help elevate the work happening all across Fordham,” said Proulx.
