Kristina Ko has been appointed assistant vice president for research — federal relations for research in the U-M Office of Research. Her appointment, approved Thursday by the Board of Regents, is effective April 1.
As assistant vice president for research, Ko will work closely with academic leaders, faculty and staff across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses by informing and advising them on federal legislative, regulatory and research policy developments that affect the U-M research enterprise.
“The University of Michigan is an essential partner with the federal government and, through this collaboration, helps to maintain and strengthen the nation’s national security, innovation and research agenda,” said Ko, who works in the university’s Washington, D.C., office.
“The federal government supported 55 percent of the university’s total volume of research last year, which aids in the creation of new knowledge, educates our future thought leaders and will ultimately lead to advancements in a variety of important areas that will save lives and support the nation’s global leadership,” she said.
Ko has extensive experience advocating and coordinating federal interactions on behalf of the university’s vast research enterprise, most recently as senior director of federal relations for research.
In that position, Ko served as the university’s primary contact with Congress, the executive branch, federal agencies, research organizations, professional societies and public policy organizations to ensure they were apprised of the achievements, needs and opportunities arising from the U-M research community. Through these activities, she played a key role in supporting the university’s mission to serve the nation and bolstered faculty participation in public engagement.
“The University of Michigan consistently ranks first in research volume among all U.S. public universities, and a great deal of our success stems from the excellence of our faculty and the strength of our relationships with government, which Kristina Ko and the federal relations for research team help facilitate,” said S. Jack Hu, vice president for research.
Ko earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago.
She also serves as director of outreach and engagement for the U-M Concussion Center, which aims to advance patient health by conducting multidisciplinary research that will answer fundamental questions on concussion prevention, identification, diagnosis, management and outcomes.
