Community & Government Relations Staff
The Office of Community & Government Relations (CGR) is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with campus neighbors as well as elected officials at the local, state, and federal level, on behalf of UCSF. CGR also coordinates the University’s response to a wide range of political and policy issues, and advises administrators and faculty on strategies to facilitate dialogue with government and community leaders.
Learn more about Community & Government Relations
View the CGR Organizational Chart
Dan Bernal
Vice Chancellor, Community & Government Relations
[email protected]
Ellie Rossiter
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Community Relations & Strategic Partnerships
[email protected]
Abby Ellis
Senior Director, Community Relations & Communications
[email protected]
Provides strategic leadership and guidance to UCSF’s community relations programs and strategic partnerships, working in close collaboration with other campus units to identify, implement and direct programs that strengthen UCSF’s relationships with the greater San Francisco community.
Amiee Alden
Senior Director, Local & State Government Relations
[email protected]
Serves as UCSF’s primary liaison to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Mayor’s office, the San Francisco legislative delegation, and various local and state agencies. Responsible for planning and implementing the university’s local and state government relations and advocacy efforts in San Francisco and Sacramento.
Benita Benavides
Assistant Director, Community Construction Outreach Program
[email protected]
Responsible for developing and implementing innovative strategies for UCSF’s Community Construction Outreach Program (CCOP) with our community partner CityBuild. CCOP promotes opportunities for San Francisco trade workers to construct and renovate UCSF facilities.
Eric Anthony
Senior Director, Federal Government Relations & Advocacy
[email protected]
Responsible for planning and implementing the federal governmental relations program and advocacy effort for UCSF. The program and advocacy effort are focused on strengthening UCSF’s presence and visibility in Washington D.C. for the purpose of promoting the University’s strategic policy priorities, particularly concerning biomedical research and clinical care.
Jessica Arline
Associate Director, Community & Government Relations, East Bay
[email protected]
Plans and implemets the community and government relations program for UCSF in the East Bay, including activities at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Liason to elected officials in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties, and with community and civic organizations in the East Bay.
Jaclyn Drexler
Associate Director, Community Relations
[email protected]
Scott Carlson
Senior Manager, Federal Government Relations & Advocacy
[email protected]
Responsible for supporting and advancing CGR’s advocacy program that encourages civic engagement, builds community, creates awareness of the policy and legislative issues that impact UCSF and its missions and cultivates relationships among UCSF, its advocates, community leaders, and elected officials at the local state and federal levels.
Mercia Brandon
Executive Assistant & Operations Lead
[email protected]
Provides comprehensive executive and administrative support to the Vice Chancellor of Community & Government Relations. Serves as backup to the Meeting & Event Coordinator. Provides general administrative support and resource management to CGR staff in collaboration with administrative colleagues.
Val Llanos
Operations & Finance Manager
[email protected]
Serves as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Government Relations. Provides coordination internal and external CGR projects. Serves as backup to the Vice Chancellor’s Executive Assistant. Provides general administrative support and resource management to all CGR staff.
Somiah Handy
Assistant Director, Community Relations
[email protected]
Fernando Enciso-Marquez Assistant Director, Community Relations
[email protected]
Obai Rambo
Assistant Director, Local & State Government Relations
[email protected]
Madison Ebke
Meeting & Event Coordinator
[email protected]
Provides onsite coordination for community meetings and other CGR events. Serves as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Community Relations & Strategic Partnerships. Provides general administrative support and resource management to CGR staff.
Wylie Liu
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Center for Community Engagement & Anchor Institution Mission
[email protected]
Facilitates community, academic, health and healthcare partnerships at UCSF. Her work focuses on community engaged research, community health, education and economic inclusion.
Lydia Bell
Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement
[email protected]
Collaborates on the development/strategy for anchor institution (community investment, workforce development, procurement) and vendor diversity initiatives, communications, and education outreach. Assists with coordinating/facilitating community-academic-healthcare partnerships, using collective impact to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health.
Raquel Barajas
Operations Manager, Anchor Institution Mission
[email protected]
Renyea Colvin
Assistant Director, Communications & Grants
[email protected]
Advances the anchor mission in the areas of resource development and communications. Serves serve as the lead for anchor-related communications to internal and external audiences and collaborative grant-writing.
Stephanie Sario
Assistant Director, Community Benefit & Anchor Institution Mission
[email protected]
Responsible for developing and managing UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland’s Community Benefit strategy, program, and plans, including BCH Oakland's Anchor Institution Mission activities.