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Federal Relations

  • Vanderbilt graduate students Tobias McCabe, Breelyn Karno, Cherie Saffold, and Levi Schult stand in front of the U.S. Capitol while in D.C. for the AAAS CASE workshop. (Vanderbilt University)

    Vanderbilt graduate students advocate for science policy in Washington, D.C.

    Scientific expertise is increasingly part of conversations shaping federal policy, but most researchers are never trained to engage in that process. This spring, Vanderbilt University graduate students gained firsthand experience navigating the intersection of science and policymaking in Washington, D.C. Read More

    May. 6, 2026

  • Rep. Matt Van Epps poses with Vanderbilt faculty, staff and partners during his visit to the Wond’ry, the university’s innovation center

    Vanderbilt hosts Reps. Cohen, Van Epps to showcase federally funded research

    At Vanderbilt, federally supported research takes many forms, from humanities scholarship to national security partnerships and early-stage innovation. That work came into focus during recent visits from members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation. Read More

    Apr. 23, 2026

  • Vanderbilt's Paul Stob, Julie Harding, Ayla Faullin, and Gwen Zwirko with Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., BA'81, JD'84 during Humanities Advocacy Day

    Vanderbilt advocates make case for federal humanities support on Capitol Hill

    In March, Vanderbilt advocates Paul Stob, director of the A&S College Core and professor of communication studies, and Ayla Faullin, a Vanderbilt junior studying English, traveled to Washington, D.C., for the National Humanities Alliance’s Humanities Advocacy Day. There, they met with congressional offices to advocate for continued federal support for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Read More

    Mar. 25, 2026

  • Okenwa Okoli, Krishnendu Roy, Kumar Yelamarthi, Joseph Slater, Lin Li and Matthew Mench stand together in an office with state and organizational flags behind them.

    Dean Roy advocates for engineering research and workforce on Capitol Hill

    The United States’ global leadership in science and technology depends on sustained federal investment in engineering research and education. With that message, Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering at Vanderbilt University, joined fellow Tennessee engineering leaders on Capitol Hill to underscore the importance of funding for agencies that power innovation and workforce development. Read More

    Feb. 24, 2026

  • Vanderbilt’s Naomi Tyler, Jason Grissom and Erin Henrick on Capitol Hill in November

    Vanderbilt Peabody directors champion education research on Capitol Hill

    Education research often feels abstract until you see its impact in the decisions school leaders make, the resources teachers rely on and the opportunities students gain. Researchers from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development brought those real-world stakes to Capitol Hill, showing how federal investment shapes classroom outcomes across Tennessee. Read More

    Dec. 9, 2025

  • The Planetary Society and nearly 300 advocates from across the country gathered to urge Congress to protect federal science funding. (The Planetary Society)

    Vanderbilt joins Planetary Society’s Hill Day to champion federal science funding

    What does it take to listen to the universe and ensure the U.S. stays at the forefront of that discovery? For Vanderbilt University researchers, part of the answer lies in continued federal support for science, particularly through agencies like NASA and the National Science Foundation.  The Planetary… Read More

    Oct. 29, 2025

  • Among those in Washington, D.C., were, from left, Nicholas Warren, PhD, Shelagh Mulvaney, PhD, Alvin Powers, MD, Patrick Hu, MD, PhD, Hyun Song, PhD, Ronald McMillan, PhD, and Sara Kavanaugh.

    Vanderbilt scientists advocate for NIH funding in Congress

    Scientists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University joined other advocates from Tennessee to share why continued bipartisan support for NIH is important to them. Read More

    Oct. 14, 2025

  • Vanderbilt University

    Vanderbilt faculty share their “why” in campaign spotlighting NIH-funded research

    Vanderbilt faculty joined United for Medical Research’s MyWHY campaign by answering a simple but powerful question: Why is medical research important to you? Their stories revealed the people, experiences and motivations behind their work, all while underscoring the role funding from the National Institutes of Health plays in every breakthrough. Read More

    Sep. 2, 2025

  • Vanderbilt University

    Subscribe to DCbrief from the Office of Federal Relations

    DCbrief is the Office of Federal Relations’ e-newsletter for the Vanderbilt community. DCbrief provides timely, concise summaries of news items to inform Vanderbilt faculty and staff of federal policy developments that impact the university and higher education community. Read More

    Aug. 26, 2025

  • Vanderbilt University

    On the Hill – Issue 14

    ON THE HILL is a biannual report produced by the Division of Government and Community Relations summarizing activity at all three levels of government, as outlined by the Vanderbilt Federal Relations, State Government Relations, and Local Government Relations teams. Read More

    Aug. 12, 2025