LOCAL

UF opens office in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Brockway
kevin.brockway@gainesville.com

The University of Florida opened an office in Washington, D.C., late last week, a move it hopes will facilitate federal outreach in an effort to cross the billion-dollar threshold in research funding.

The new UF Office of Federal Relations is located in the Hall of the States Building, within a few blocks of the U.S. Capitol Building. The space includes two offices, a small conference room and a reception area.

Mark Kaplan, UF's vice president of government and community relations, said by opening an office in the nation’s capital, the school is following a model set by peer universities in the state and the Association of American Universities. Florida State University, Florida International University, the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida all have offices in Washington, D.C.

“This is a natural next step for us,” Kaplan said, who along with UF president Kent Fuchs attended a ribbon-cutting Thursday to mark the occasion.

UF already has established a strong presence in the D.C. area in terms of attracting federal research funding. Of UF’s $801 million in research in 2016-17, $327 million came from federal grants. UF officials have set a goal of surpassing $1 billion in research funding after increasing to $837 million in 2017-18.

Kaplan said the office should help build stronger connections between researchers at UF's Gainesville's campus and agencies in Washington, D.C.

It will come at a price. UF signed a five-year lease for the office space, with rent costing $75,000 per year. Funds to pay for the lease will come from the UF Research Foundation.

“Rent is more expensive in D.C. than it is in Gainesville, but our hope is in time the return on this investment turns out to be many times what we wind up spending in Washington,” Kaplan said. “So far, we’re really encouraged by some of the early signs and some of the value of just being present.”

Sarah Mathias was hired as director of the office last year. Her responsibilities will include monitoring federal legislation and communicating UF's positions to legislators and the administration. Mathias, who previously held a similar role at the University of California system’s Washington office for 11 years, also will work to advance relationships with the Florida Congressional delegation and other key leaders.

Kaplan said in addition to working to secure federal funding, the office will serve as a home away home for UF students interning in the D.C. area and a way to engage alumni there.

“We have a lot of alumni and friends who work in all phases of the economy up there,” Kaplan said. “Having this office as an anchor is going to be really energizing for folks and help reinforce those ties back to Gainesville.”