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Federal Relations

Announcing our new Executive Director for Government Relations

January 08, 2026

January 8, 2026
 
Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Virginia Meehan has been appointed Executive Director for Government Relations, effective January 1, 2026. In this role, Virginia will oversee the university’s government relations strategy across federal, state and local levels, working closely with senior leadership to advance UMD’s legislative and policy priorities.

Virginia brings more than 19 years of government relations experience, including nearly a decade at the University of Maryland as director of federal relations. During her tenure, she has advanced the university’s federal priorities in support of major research centers, presidential initiatives and academic programs, securing significant congressional funding and strengthening UMD’s national research profile.

Her accomplishments include leading the successful transition of the UMD Center for the Advanced Study of Languages (CASL) to a new federal government sponsor, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD I&S). Under the new sponsor, CASL transformed into the Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) and now receives roughly $100 million annually in federal funding. Virginia also helped secure $40 million in congressional funding for ARLIS to launch a quantum computing facility in partnership with the U.S. Air Force.

In addition, Virginia has supported the transition and long-term funding of the university’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), secured over $50 million in funding from Congress to launch the Joint Research Laboratory in partnership with the Army Research Lab, and helped advance initiatives such as the Prevent Gun Violence: Research, Empowerment, Strategies & Solutions (PROGRESS), the Maryland Small Business Development Center and upgrades to the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel.  With support from the Office of the President, she also expanded the federal relations team in 2024, increasing capacity to engage campus stakeholders and federal partners.

Before joining UMD, Virginia served as Director of Federal Relations at Northwestern University and as a Government Relations Associate at Lewis-Burke Associates. She began her career on Capitol Hill in legislative positions for U.S. Representatives Ron Klein and Robert Wexler. Virginia holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Miami University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

As executive director, Virginia will serve as a key advisor to senior leadership and work closely with campus partners to advance the university’s legislative and policy priorities, while continuing to build strong relationships with policymakers at all levels of government. She steps into this role as we also welcome Jazz Lewis as Director of State Government Relations. It is an exciting time to be advocating for the University of Maryland as we continue our upward trajectory.

Please join me in congratulating Virginia on her appointment.


Sincerely,
Darryll J. Pines
President, University of Maryland
He/Him/His
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