WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Policy and Affairs Coordinator in Washington State University 's Office of State Relations
- Policy and Affairs Coordinator, WSU State Relations
Catalina "Cat" Amortegui is the Policy and Affairs Coordinator in Washington State University's Office of State Relations and is based in Olympia, Washington. The Policy and Affairs Coordinator serves as a liaison between WSU and the office of Washington's legislative delegation and staff focusing on policy tracking, educational opportunitites and outreach activities. Before her current position Cat served as the Policy and Affairs Coordinator for WSU Federal Relations for close to 5 years, located in Pullman. Cat has a strong connection to WSU, dating back before she joined the WSU Government Relations team. She began her studies at WSU Tri-Cities before relocating to Pullman. Cat earned a bachelor's degree in political science with a global studies emphasis in 2016 while working in WSU central IT. Before graduating she joined the Office of Research in the proposal submission and processing office. Cat was born in Colombia and moved as a political refugee with her family to Costa Rica in 2001, then to Richland in 2004.
Job Titles:
- Director of Washington State University Office of State Relations
- Senior Director of State Relations
Chris was appointed the Director of Washington State University Office of State Relations and chief representative of Washington's land grant research institution to the Legislature in December 2010. The State Relations team he leads promotes the mission of the university and closely monitors relevant state-related legislative activity. The team, along with university leaders, engages the state's elected leadership to advance understanding of how WSU's core mission aligns with state priorities to produce the kind of well rounded, informed citizens that make communities strong and resilient, while providing for economic development, a well-prepared work force, and increasing economic and social well-being. Under Chris' leadership, WSU has secured state support for a new campus in Everett, a new medical school based in Spokane and new facilities on all of WSU's five physical campuses.
Prior to joining the team at WSU, Chris was senior communications specialist in the Washington State Senate for two years where he helped develop communications strategies and provided written communications for both print and digital audiences. He also previously worked for 11 years as a reporter at the Tri-City Herald, nine of them as its statehouse correspondent in Olympia.
A proud graduate of Washington State University ('97), Chris received his bachelor's degree in Communications.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Assistant Director, WSU State Relations
Connor Haggerty is the Assistant Director in the Washington State University Office of State Relations, located in Olympia, Washington. He liaises with members of the state Legislature, their staff, and other higher education stakeholders on behalf of the office, helping organize and advance WSU's institutional priorities.
Prior to his current role, Connor spent four years as the Policy and Affairs Coordinator for the office and spent a year and a half working as legislative staff in the Washington State House of Representatives. He was the student lobbyist for Washington State University Vancouver, representing the interests of students before the Legislature while earning his bachelor's degree in Public Affairs ('17).
Job Titles:
- Director of Seattle and Regional Relations
- Member of NACRO
Dana Ulrich is the Director of Seattle and Regional Relations at Washington State University (WSU) in the Office of External Affairs and Government Relations. In this role she serves to connect the University to a variety of constituencies in the Puget Sound region, including local governments, businesses, civic and trade associations, and international organizations by sharing information and seeking opportunities to bring the University's resources to bear on regional issues.
Joining WSU in 2016, Dana formerly served as the Director of Corporate Engagement from 2016 thru July 2022. Dana also a co-led diversity and inclusion efforts for the WSU Foundation as a member of the organization's grassroots DEI advocacy group.
She previously worked in corporate engagement roles at Washington University in St. Louis (2009-2016) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (2005-2009). She holds a degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Additionally, Dana is a member of NACRO (2015-present), a network of higher education corporate relations professionals focusing on industry best practices and currently serves as the NACRO Board co-President.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Affairs Coordinator in Washington State University 's Office of Federal Relations
- Policy and Affairs Coordinator, WSU Federal Relations
Geordy Bryant Greene is the Policy and Affairs Coordinator in Washington State University's Office of Federal Relations and is currently based in Washington D.C. The Policy and Affairs Coordinator serves as a liaison between WSU and the offices of Washington's congressional delegation and staff focusing on policy tracking, educational opportunities and outreach activities. Before his current position, he served as Staff Assistant for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA05) in both her Spokane and Washington D.C. office for close to 3 years and as a policy analyst for Texas Action during the 2021 legislative session in Austin, TX. Geordy graduated from WSU Pullman in December of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in political science with an emphasis in international studies.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations
Glynda Becker Fenter was appointed Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations for Washington State University in January, 2024. Prior to that, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Federal Engagement and Advocacy and Director of WSU DC since 2019, and as Federal Relations Director since 2012, where she has served as a liaison for WSU with Congressional Offices and executive branch agencies. Her leadership in the Federal Relations office promoted awareness and support of WSU research, education and outreach activities and brought institutional alignment between the university and key issues important to the delegation and administration.
Glynda has diverse experience in policy work serving multiple clients based in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to joining WSU, Glynda worked at McBee Strategic, a consulting firm based in D.C., for six years where she offered policy and strategic communications counsel. Glynda began her career in Washington, D.C., working in the House of Representatives where she served three members over a span of more than seven years. She served as Legislative Director for former Minnesota Congressman Mark R. Kennedy (R-MN6) and on was on the staff for former Congressmen George Nethercutt (R-WA5) and Rick White (R-WA1). Prior to her time with McBee Strategic, Glynda served as staff in the President George W. Bush Administration in several capacities including the Department of Commerce, and various roles in the White House, working on issues important to the state of Washington.
Job Titles:
- Communications Consultant for the Washington State University Office of External Affairs
- Communications Consultant, WSU External Affairs and Government Relations
Heather Dykstra is the Communications Consultant for the Washington State University Office of External Affairs and Government Relations (EAGR) and is based out of the State Relations office in Olympia, Washington.
In her role, Heather oversees the development and graphic design of outreach materials, publications and digital content for the EAGR office. This includes designing legislative brochures and white papers, event guides and websites, custom maps, university facts sheets, infographic posters, and email marketing campaigns. In addition to this work, Heather also oversees the Government Relations website and legislative bill tracker, assists in organizing special events and tours, coordinates travel and office administration for State Relations and assists the EAGR office with purchasing, processing invoices and procurement card reconciliation.
Heather is a graduate from Washington State University Vancouver, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English ('09).
Job Titles:
- Director of Federal Relations
- Director of WSU Federal Relations
Jake Dowd joined WSU in 2023 as the Director of WSU Federal Relations. Jake leads our D.C. office and supports strategic efforts to elevate WSU's federal legislative priorities and represents the University to members of Congress, the Administration, federal agencies, and higher education organizations.
He has nearly two decades of experience working in Washington, D.C. in higher education, association, and international affairs work. Jake previously served as federal relations coordinator at the University of Nebraska and senior government relations specialist at the National Education Association. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned a certificate in the Asian Pacific Leadership Program from the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since coming to WSU, Jake has stepped into leadership roles, serving on the board of The Science Coalition and co-leading APLU's Council on Government Affairs winter meeting.
Job Titles:
- Director of Public Affairs
Katie Robertson Gziryan joined WSU in February of 2022 as Director of Public Affairs, working closely across the External Affairs and Government Relations and Marketing and Communications teams to align and coordinate government relations, strategic communications, issue and advocacy management, university research initiatives, and information dissemination.
Prior to joining WSU, she served as senior communications manager for justice policy at the Urban Institute, where she worked with researchers and communications staff to raise the visibility of research and in-depth analyses and engage critical audiences to improve justice policy and practice at the national, state, and local levels.
She previously held strategic communications positions at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and in both federal and local government offices, serving as digital content manager for the Mayor of Seattle and deputy press secretary for U.S. Senator Patty Murray.
Katie holds a bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in journalism from George Mason University's Honors College.
Job Titles:
- Assistant to the Vice President
- Assistant to the Vice President of External Affairs and Government Relations
Michele McCarver is assistant to the Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations, and functions as a staff coordinator for the Department of Government Relations. Based in Pullman, Michele represents government relations on WSU's main campus and coordinates meetings and events for the department across Washington state and in Washington, D.C. Michele first joined the government relations team as the assistant to the Director of Federal Relations in December 2005. Prior to that, Michele worked in the WSU Office of Research and the Graduate School.
Job Titles:
- Director, Health Sciences Public Policy and Advocacy
Patti A. Stauffer joined Washington State University in May 2021 as the Director for Health Sciences Public Policy and Advocacy.
She has more than 25 years of administrative and public policy experience with non-profit organizations and academic institutions working to improve health outcomes, with an emphasis on women and children. Her career has been dedicated to expanding access to health care, promoting community-based health professional education opportunities, advocating for data driven policy solutions, and supporting research focused on health disparities and the social determinants of health.
Patti grew up in a rural community in Iowa and has historical family ties to the greater Coeur d' Alene / Spokane area. Prior to coming to Washington State University, she served in public policy roles in Kentucky and Indiana and was the associate director for Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine's Division of Research, Data, and Information.
Stauffer has a B.S. in biology and a M.S. in environmental science from Indiana University.