As a postgraduate scholar in cellular biology and physiology, Isaac Plutzer, AB ’20, dedicates a majority of his time to a research laboratory. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, however, Plutzer donned a suit and journeyed by bus alongside 11 fellow WashU students to Jefferson City, Missouri, to converse with state senators and representatives. The aim was to establish connections and convey to lawmakers the significance of WashU’s commitment to education, research, and patient service.
Plutzer is acutely aware of the significance of WashU’s research initiatives. As a doctoral candidate in the computational and systems biology program, he collaborates closely with mentor Ben Major, the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor in Cell Biology and Physiology. Within Major’s laboratory, scientists strive to comprehend how modifications in signaling pathways contribute to human cancer, and how such insights could facilitate the creation of new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches.
“Being present in Jefferson City as part of WashU’s inaugural Advocacy Day allowed our concerns to resonate above the noise of other matters that individuals may read or hear, and it permitted two-way dialogue,” Plutzer remarks. “As a PhD candidate in the medical school, I understand that our research is financed through federal funding. It is crucial to grasp the influence of politics in this regard. Additionally, it is vital to clearly communicate to representatives how this research affects the constituents in their regions, as well as how the funds that WashU secures return to these communities.”
The Office of Government & Community Relations has initiated the new WashU Advocacy Program to promote such impactful interactions. Part of the university’s strategic plan “Here and Next,” the WashU Advocacy Program, as stated on its webpage, “aspirations to position WashU as a dependable and trusted source of information, policy evaluation, and insights for governmental leaders at all levels.” Tonya Rice, who is the assistant vice chancellor for advocacy and engagement, is cultivating a strong and active network of advocates and supporters who can attest to the influence of WashU on their lives and communities, and she played a key role in organizing the inaugural WashU Advocacy Day in Jefferson City.
Alongside the 12 student advocates, university officials also participated in meaningful exchanges with legislators in Jefferson City.
Chancellor Andrew Martin expressed inspiration from the experience. “For us to forge personal connections, to encounter numerous representatives and senators, and to engage in the policy formulation process — that exemplifies experiential learning at its finest,” Martin states. “Our students as WashU Advocates had the opportunity to observe firsthand how governance operates here in the state of Missouri.”
Rice observes that one optimistic result from the day was the ability to identify common ground surrounding bipartisan support for higher education. Numerous legislators articulated their dedication to advocating for WashU, acknowledging its contributions to the state and local economy, workforce development, and essential health-care services.
During discussions throughout the day, WashU Advocates utilized significant data from the WashU Statewide Impact Map — an interactive platform that highlights the university’s extensive contributions and favorable impact throughout Missouri. For instance, the map, developed by Government & Community Relations in collaboration with WashU’s Information Technology data team, swiftly reveals how many WashU students hail from Missouri (992), how many of these students receive WashU grants (708), how many obtain federal assistance (323), and how many receive state support (565). The total undergraduate financial aid provided for this demographic amounted to $49,391,269 during the academic year 2023–2024.
WashU Advocate Chantal Ogbeifun, a sophomore pursuing pre-law and political science in Arts & Sciences, is one such student from Missouri. Ogbeifun grew up in Republic, Missouri, a small town with less than 20,000 residents located southwest of Springfield. While attending high school, she connected with Phil Layfield, the assistant director for rural recruitment at WashU, and discovered the university’s pledge to offer opportunities for students from rural areas.
“I wanted to participate in WashU Advocacy Day because I wished to share my narrative,” she states. “I aimed for legislators to understand what it feels like to transition from a modest, rural community in Missouri to a university that is frequently perceived as unattainable or out of reach for students like myself, who may lack the financial means or might not be aware of the opportunities that higher education can provide.”
At WashU, Ogbeifun is recognized as a Danforth Scholar, a scholarship granted to individuals who have illustrated leadership in service and a strong dedication to their community. “I’m standing up for all the students who feel that attaining higher education is unattainable,” she states. “My parents both relocated to the United States, and they were unable to access this form of education. I wanted to inform legislators that WashU is contributing significantly to our community by providing inclusive education for all.”
Rice and her team equipped students like Ogbeifun in preparation for WashU Advocacy Day. As part of the training programs, students were encouraged to develop a personal narrative detailing their experiences and the influence of WashU on their education and lives. “Legislators were particularly attentive when students shared personal stories about how the university has shaped their experiences, especially regarding financial assistance and scholarships,” Rice explains. “Moreover, students cultivated a deeper comprehension of legislative priorities and processes, along with strategies to effectively convey essential messages to elected representatives.”
The achievement of this initial event lays a solid groundwork for future advocacy initiatives at WashU. In the coming years, the WashU Advocacy Program aims to involve a wider range of students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and supporters of the university.
“Advocacy doesn’t conclude after one day. It is a continual process that demands ongoing engagement and the development of relationships with policymakers,” Rice emphasizes. “We promote continuous dialogue with government officials throughout Missouri to advocate for WashU. Additionally, we aspire to highlight more accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff that showcase the significant impact of WashU’s educational programs, research, and innovations on the local economy, and patient care by WashU doctors.”
Conveying these crucial messages to elected representatives at every governmental level—local, state, and federal—is the aim.
Rice indicates that one of the central goals of the program is to leverage the persuasive influence of alumni and welcomes alumni from any location, as well as any member of the WashU community, to engage in the program both in Missouri and in national outreach efforts.
“By joining WashU Advocates, alumni can contribute in a meaningful way, help shape the future of the university for many years ahead, and collaboratively enhance our communities,” Rice shares. “The success and long-term viability of the university, the strength of our professional networks, and the opportunities available for coming generations rely on the collective action of our entire community.”
These reductions, if made enduring, would threaten “the remarkable advancements we’ve made in cancer treatments, progress toward a remedy for Alzheimer’s, and nearly every other federally funded research endeavor on our Medical School and Danforth campuses.”
Chancellor Andrew Martin
And collective action is essential at this moment. On Feb. 13, Chancellor Martin reached out to 164,000 alumni, parents, contributors, faculty, and staff across the United States. In his communication, Martin explained that the university had received an unexpected announcement on Feb. 7 from the National Institutes of Health. The NIH noted that it was altering its policy and drastically cutting research funding that Washington University and other institutions depend on for pioneering research. Martin conveyed that these cuts, if made permanent, would jeopardize “the remarkable advancements we’ve made in cancer treatments, progress toward a remedy for Alzheimer’s, and nearly every other federally funded research endeavor on our Medical School and Danforth campuses. It would also diminish the economic influence we exert in our region and state.”
Subsequently, Martin made a direct appeal: “I am requesting that you take a moment today to contact your representative in Congress and urge them to assist in reversing this NIH decision. Your elected officials can do this by either supporting legislation to halt the reductions or by convincing the NIH to reconsider their choice. Both actions are equally impactful. More importantly, by voicing your concerns in this discussion, you will send a definitive signal to your congressional representative that attempts to undermine essential research should be met with widespread, bipartisan opposition.”
To advocate for WashU and collaboratively progress our communities, visit Join WashU Advocates.
To discover more about the WashU Advocacy Program, visit the Office of Government & Community Relations’ Advocacy & Engagement page.
The article Collective action, ongoing advocacy first appeared on The Source.