Chris has more than two decades of federal governmental relations, advocacy, and communications experience in our nation’s capital. As associate vice president, Chris develops, coordinates, and implements the university's federal relations activities and advocates on federal matters, including education, healthcare and research. Prior to joining UC in 2001, Chris worked for the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP), which was a bipartisan and intergovernmental body of federal and state policymakers created in July 1990 to assess and report state and national progress toward achieving the National Education Goals. Before joining the NEGP, Chris was a legislative staff member for United States Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. While working for Sen. Bingaman, Chris focused on a range of issues including education, housing, labor, transportation, and governmental affairs. Chris received his B.A. in political science from Loyola University in Maryland. After completing his studies at Loyola, Chris joined Mercy Corps and spent a year doing full-time volunteer service with Native American students in New Mexico.