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Council on Governmental and External Relations

Purpose

The mission of the Council is to support the University of Illinois System by building and sustaining effective partnerships with the state, federal, and local governments. The Council coordinates and shares advice and expertise with relevant units across the system. It works to engage with stakeholders in alumni relations, the private sector, think tanks, associations and other external parties. COGER plans and oversees effective outreach and advocacy campaigns targeting elected and other high-level government officials. Current members include:

Chair

  • Jennifer Creasey, U of I System, Assistant Vice President External Relations and State Relations

Members

  • Marissa Brewer, U of I System, Director, Advocacy & Strategic Events
  • Mick Crumbock, UIC, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy
  • Bob Flider, Urbana-Champaign, Senior Director of Community and Government Relations
  • Marty Gutierrez, UIC, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Government Relations and Advocacy
  • Sue Johnson, U of I Foundation, Assistant Vice President Marketing and Communications
  • Melissa Haas, U of I System, Director Federal Relations
  • Phyllis Hayes, UI Health, Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Engagement
  • Jisu Hong, U of I System, Associate Vice President Economic Development and Innovation
  • Molly Lamb, UIS, Executive Director Center State Policy and Leadership
  • Lauren Krause, UI Health, Director, Affairs Advocacy and Government Relations
  • Marc Miller, Prairie Research Institute, Deputy Director
  • Kyle Peebles, Illinois Institute of Government & Public Affairs, Senior Coordinator of Media Communications
  • Tanner Poss, UI Heath, Assistant Director, Government Relations
  • Joan Sestak, UIS, Director of Community and Governmental Relations
  • Alan Solow, U of I System, External Relations and Communications, Director of Local & State Relations
  • Ben Superfine, Illinois Institute of Government & Public Affairs, Senior Director
  • Kathy Sullivan, U of I System, Assistant Director of Advocacy, Illinois Connection
  • Jeanette Tamayo, U of I System, Associate Vice President for Workforce Development and Community Engagement
  • Ben Taylor, U of I System, Senior Associate Director, Office of the VP for Economic Development and Communications
  • Theresa Thomas, U of I System, External Relations and Communications, Advocacy Specialist
  • Stephen Wald, U of I Extension, Director of External Communications & Government Relations
  • Paul Weinberger, U of I System, Assistant Vice President Federal Relations, Vice Chair

Ex officio members

  • Tim Killeen, U of I System, President
  • Adrienne Nazon, U of I System, Vice President for External Relations and Communications

Advocacy Guidelines

There are many ways in which university employees engage with government officials and their staff in the course of their work–from inviting officials to campus to testifying at legislative hearings to visiting legislators in their offices. COGER has established a set of guidelines to help coordinate advocacy efforts for the U of I System. If you are planning on advocating on behalf of the U of I System, please review these guidelines and contact Jennifer Creasey with any questions.