The mission of the UNC System Office of Federal Relations is to:
- Promote the UNC System’s education, research, national security efforts, patient care, and public service activities;
- Increase federal support for all UNC System institutions and affiliated entities;
- Advance the UNC Partnership for National Security, a Systemwide effort to develop partnerships with the Department of Defense and the U.S. military;
- Provide timely response and communications between the University and members of Congress, congressional staff, the White House, federal agencies, educational associations, and media on matters of federal interest;
- Lead the University’s efforts to formulate and coordinate the federal priorities of the System’s 17 institutions; and
- Support our institutions through strategic planning and issues management; monitoring and analysis of federal legislation; and the identification of faculty opportunities to participate in congressional hearings, executive branch advisory groups and task forces, and national education forums.
Federal Relations works directly with institutions through the 17-member, chancellor-appointed, Federal Relations Council (FRC). The FRC is active in the development of the System’s annual federal priorities, which are then advocated for on Capitol Hill and promoted within the North Carolina U.S. congressional delegation.
UNC System Federal Priorities for 118th Congress
Federal legislative contacts
NC 118th Congress
United States Senate
Senator Thom Tillis (R) Website | District Offices | Senator Tedd Budd (R) Website | District Offices |
United States House of Representatives
Donald Davis D – District 1 Website | District Offices | Dan Bishop R – District 8 Website | District Offices |
Deborah Ross D – District 2 Website | District Offices | Richard Hudson R – District 9 Website | District Offices |
Gregory Murphy R – District 3 Website | District Offices | Patrick McHenry R – District 10 Website | District Offices |
Valerie Foushee D – District 4 Website | District Offices | Chuck Edwards R – District 11 Website | District Offices |
Virginia Foxx R – District 5 Website | District Offices | Alma Adams D – District 12 Website | District Offices |
Kathy Manning D – District 6 Website | District Offices | Wiley Nickel D – District 13 Website | District Offices |
David Rouzer R – District 7 Website | District Offices | Jeff Jackson D – District 14 Website | District Offices |
Federal relations staff
Federal Relations
Vice President for Federal Relations | Phone: 202-812-4224
Washington Office
750 1st Street NE, Suite 1110
Washington, DC 20002
Ms. Morra is the primary liaison between the University of North Carolina System and the federal government. She works closely with the congressional delegation and their staff to advocate for university priorities and is the principal point of contact for University partnerships with the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and other critical military partners. Other duties include developing and implementing the Board of Governors’ Federal Agenda, analyzing and influencing federal higher education policy, coordinating the federal government relations efforts for the 17 campuses of the UNC System, and advising the president and Board of Governors on all federal and military issues.
Military Outreach
Director of Defense & Military Partnerships | Phone: 919-962-6291
Ms. Sidner serves as a key facilitator to identify and connect UNC System research capabilities, scientific talent and related expertise with defense community applied research and technology needs. She works closely with 17 institutions, the US Army Research Office, USASOC, other military partners, and the defense industry to help solve critical science and technology challenges for special operations forces and other military partners. Ms. Sidner coordinates activities of the UNC Defense Applications Group, a multidisciplinary group of UNC System subject matter experts, which coordinates workshops, projects, and internships. She also works with faculty and staff to increase Department of Defense sponsored research across the UNC System.
federal relations officers
UNC System Office
Bart Goodson
Senior Vice President Government Relations
Austen Nowell
Assistant Vice President State Government Relations
Elizabeth Morra
Vice President Federal Government Relations
Appalachian State University
Matthew Dockham
Director of External Affairs & Community Relations
East Carolina University
Karson Hallow
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Elizabeth City State University
William “Chip” Lewin
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Deputy Chief of Staff
Fayetteville State University
Ariel Aponte
Associate Vice Chancellor for External Affairs
North Carolina A&T State University
Oliver Thomas
Director of External Affairs
North Carolina Central University
Vacant
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Brock Winslow
Vice Chancellor of External Relations
NC State University
Matt Peterson
Director of Federal Affairs
University of North Carolina Asheville
Cory Bryson
Director of Government Affairs
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amy McConkey
Director of State Relations
Kelly Dockham
Director of Federal Affairs
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Anna Helms
Assistant Director for Constituent Relations
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Andrew Cagle
Director of State and External Affairs
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Paul Jolicoeur
Director for External Affairs and Community Relations
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Jim DeCristo
Chief of Staff
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Bradley Ballou
Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary, Board of Trustees
Western Carolina University
Christy Agner
Deputy Chief of Staff and External Relations Director
Winston-Salem State University
Richard D. Davis III
Director of Government Relations and External Affairs
ECU Health
Michelle Brooks
Executive Vice Dean, Brody School of Medicine
North Carolina Arboretum
George Briggs
Executive Director
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Mary Shuping
Director, Governmental and External Affairs
PBS North Carolina
Douglas Strasnick
Chief of Staff
UNC Health
Lanier Swann Hodgson
Vice President State & Federal Relations, Governance and External Affairs