Government Relations Staff

Ann Arbor Staff

Ruthven Building | 1109 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079

State Relations Director Rebecca DeVooght

Rebecca DeVooght

State Relations Director

devooghr@umich.edu | 734-763-5554 | 517-372-7801

Nell Dority

Nell Dority

(she/her/hers)

Chief of Staff, Vice President for Government Relations

ndority@umich.edu | Cell: 734-945-4178 (preferred) | Direct: 734-615-2562

 

Associate Director of State Outreach, LaSonia Forte

LaSonia Forte

Associate Director of State Outreach

ljforte@umich.edu | 734-764-7901

LaSonia Forte serves the eastern region of the State of Michigan, including Detroit, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, and Alpena. As an outreach representative in the Office of Government Relations, LaSonia's role is to build strategic partnerships in the business, institutional, government, education and non-profit sectors throughout the east side of Michigan.

Fleming Building Reception Anita Greca

Anita Greca

Secretary Intermediate - Fleming Administration Building, Mailroom/Information Desk

anitag@umich.edu | 734-763-0901

Vice President Chris Kolb

Chris Kolb

Vice President for Government Relations

kolbc@umich.edu | 734-763-5554

 

Andrea Lewis

Government Relations Specialist

ablewis@umich.edu | 734-764-9261

Executive Assistant to the Vice President Terry Ianni

Terry Ianni

Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Government Relations

tianni@umich.edu | 734-763-5554

Associate Director Michael Rein

Michael Rein

Director of Community Relations

reinm@umich.edu | 734-763-5554

Director of Community Relations, Michael Rein coordinates activities and engagement linked with community-based organizations and local government officials in the greater Ann Arbor area and Southeastern Michigan, including Detroit. Michael also coordinates the engagement activities of Government Relations’ State Outreach officials, Dana Sitlzer and LaSonia Forte across the state of Michigan

Web Associate Mark Rivett

Mark Rivett

Senior Web Designer

rivett@umich.edu | 734-764-9256

Mark maintains The University of Michigan Office of Government Relations Website, The University of Michigan Detroit Website, Michigan Impact, The Central Campus Classroom Building, and The Ruthven Administrative Building Website. Before joining U-M in March 2018 he worked for seven years as an Application Developer, six years as a Senior Graphic Design Specialist, and four years as a Multimedia Instructor.

Associate Director Dana Sitzler

Dana Sitzler

Associate Director of State Outreach

dds@umich.edu | 734-763-5554

Dana's areas of outreach include the west side of Michigan, northern, Tribal Connections and Project Manager for Michigan Road Scholars Tour.

Lansing Staff

University of Michigan Lansing Service Center | 101 South Washington Square Suite 730 ,Lansing, Michigan 48933-1708

Secretary Associate Angela McCullum

Angela McCullum

Secretary Intermediate

amccullu@umich.edu | 517-372-7801

Washington, D.C. Staff

The University of Michigan Washington Federal Relations | 444 N.Capitol Street, NW Suite 820, Washington, D.C. 20001

Emeritus

Vice President Cynthia Wilbanks

Cynthia H. Wilbanks

Vice President Emeritus for Government Relations

Cynthia H. Wilbanks, who served as the University of Michigan’s vice president for government relations for 22 years, retired on January 18, 2021.

Cynthia H. Wilbanks as Vice President for Government Relations, directed the University of Michigan's Government Relations programs at the local, state and federal levels. Her responsibilities included planning and developing the institution's response to proposed legislation; developing and maintaining effective relationships with governmental agencies and officials; and analyzing and assessing legislative, administrative and regulatory activities as they pertain to University programs, activities and operations. She also supervised the activities of the State Outreach office.