The Miami University Government Relations Network continued its operations during the Fall 2020 semester despite significant setbacks due to the pandemic. The semester included prospective student visits, advocacy events, professional development events, and the continuation of the EDL110 course.
With the creation of the Office of ASPIRE, the Government Relations Network continues to engage students under this new organizational branch of the university. ASPIRE, an office for advancing strategy, partnerships, institutional relations, and economy, was created to streamline connections with partners in business, government and the community. You can read more about this new office here.
The EDL110 course continued in hybrid format during the fall. Students learned about professional and career development, diversity and inclusion, and how to navigate the university’s extensive resources and opportunities. Students participating in the course lived in the Government Relations Network Living Learning Community (LLC) located in the newly renovated Stanton Hall.
The Government Relations Network and ASPIRE welcomed a number of new interns to the team during the fall semester. Interns helped schedule the Virtual Statehouse Day, assisted with prospective student visits, and performed a number of other integral tasks for the office.
On September 3, President Greg Crawford joined Governor Mike DeWine (Miami ‘69) to share about Miami’s testing efforts and to thank the Governor for his leadership during the pandemic. You can view President Crawford’s appearance here.
President Greg Crawford participates in Governor Mike DeWine’s virtual press briefing
The Government Relations Network hosted three prospective students during the fall semester. Addy and Sam Sommers, the daughter and son of Mike Sommers (Miami ‘97) visited in October, meeting with Vice President Randi Malcolm Thomas, Esq. and getting a full tour of campus. Francesca Lanese, daughter of Rep. Laura Lanese (Miami ‘83) visited later in the semester, touring campus and meeting with President Crawford and current students in her areas of interest.
Left to right – Collin Finn, Randi Malcolm Thomas, Esq., Mike Sommers, Jill Sommers, Addy Sommers, and Sam Sommers visit in a socially distanced manner at Shriver Center
Left to right – VP Randi Malcolm Thomas, Esq., Collin Finn, Francesca Lanese, and Rep. Laura Lanese visit in Roudebush Hall
In late October, 55 Miami students met with 65 state legislators for the Government Relations Network’s Virtual Statehouse Day. Students and faculty discussed the effects of COVID-19 on higher education, how they have adapted to the pandemic, different partnerships between the university and community entities, and a number of other important initiatives. Students and faculty thanked the legislators for their continued support of higher education in the State of Ohio.
Miami students Collin Finn (top right), Kit Wolke (middle left), and Nico Hollander-Tineo (middle right) meet with Rep. Brian Baldridge (bottom) and aide Sam Creech (top left) during the Fall Virtual Statehouse Day
Also in late October, a number of Government Relations Network students met with Miami alumni in Washington, DC as part of the Fall Virtual GRIP (Government Relations Immersion Program) Conference. Students discussed career paths, professional development, life in the nation’s capitol, and Miami experiences that prepared the alumni for their work.
Students and alumni participate in the Fall 2020 GRIP conference
