Following strong engagement and successful work with government entities and public officials at the local, state and regional levels, Old Dominion University has expanded its government relations operations to include a Washington-based staff member. Kristin Dini will officially join ODU on June 10 as assistant vice president of federal relations. In this position, Dini will advocate with legislators and their staffs, as well as leaders and staffs of federal agencies, on policies and opportunities that are relevant to the University's academic interests.
Dini serves as assistant vice president of federal government relations at Temple University, a position she has held since November 2014. During Dini's tenure at Temple, she promoted the Temple brand of excellence in education and research to Congress; spearheaded funding strategies for research initiatives in Congress with coordination of Temple's Office of Research Administration; and collaborated with Temple Health's government relations team on federal policy matters impacting the Temple enterprise.
Prior to Dini's time at Temple, she served as the legislative director, senior legislative assistant, legislative correspondent and staff assistant for Congressman Charles W. Dent, as well as staff assistant for Congressman Patrick J. Toomey. Dini received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Temple University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Dini is pursuing a doctorate in education at Temple University.
In response to being selected for this inaugural role, Dini said, "I am thrilled to be joining the Old Dominion University family and working to support President Hemphill and his team in executing his vision for the Monarch community. I am excited to establish and bolster our new presence in Washington with the Congress and the Administration, while elevating the profile of our hard-working and persistent students and world-class researchers."
President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., said, "With ODU's recent Research 1 classification, we have proudly joined the ranks of the nation's top-performing research institutions. Our ability to continue to grow our research enterprise will be greatly enhanced by Kristin's deep experience, expansive network and proven success. Kristin will be a valuable asset to our world-class faculty and cutting-edge researchers as they expand existing networks and establish new partnerships. Additionally, she will represent ODU with a daily presence at the federal level, which will be critical in advocating for access and affordability, as well as innovation and investment, with lawmakers and other entities."
Dini will report to Annie Gibson, who has led ODU's government relations efforts since June 2018. With the expansion of government relations staffing, Gibson will now serve as the associate vice president for government relations and continue to report to President Hemphill and serve as a member of the University's senior leadership team.
President Hemphill added, "Annie has provided strong advocacy and exemplary representation of ODU's mission and impact in Richmond and across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing additional resources and providing greater awareness of ODU's impact and success through academic, research and service activities. I know that Annie will continue to provide great leadership now and well into the future!"
