Sarah Walkling has been named the new director of federal relations for research and assistant director of the Washington, D.C. office. She will join U-M Aug. 1.
Walkling comes to U-M from Vanderbilt University, where she has served as associate director of the D.C. office for the past four years. In this role, she coordinated the annual appropriations and legislative campaigns for Vanderbilt and worked closely with deans, public affairs staff and community leaders to develop strategies on numerous topics, such as nanotechnology, energy research and deemed export control policies.
Prior to Vanderbilt, Walkling served as the senior legislative assistant to Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., from 1997-2002; as senior analyst with the Arms Control Association from 1994-1997; and as analyst at the Science Applications International Corp. from 1993-1994.
She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master of Arts degree in international relations and from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in history.
Walking will work with faculty and staff to strengthen U-M’s profile in Washington. She will coordinate the University’s interactions with Congress and the executive branch on research-related issues. She also will coordinate liaison activities on such issues for U-M’s president, vice president for research and executive officers with the legislative and executive branches, educational associations, research organizations, professional societies and public policy organizations. Walkling will also advise and brief faculty and administrators on federal legislative activities, regulatory and policy developments, and she will coordinate liaison actions.
She can be reached at (202) 554-0578.
