Our Staff
Ryan Adesnik
Vice President, Government Affairs
(650) 725-3322
radesnik@stanford.edu
Ryan Adesnik manages the university’s government affairs efforts at the federal, state and local level. Adesnik first came to Stanford in March 2003 to launch a government relations office at the School of Medicine, where he designed a program to further the school’s research and policy goals in Washington, D.C., and in Sacramento.
Adesnik joined Stanford from the Carmen Group, Inc. of Washington, D.C., a firm that represents corporations, teaching hospitals, private universities, nonprofit philanthropies and others before the federal government. He served as vice president of the organization and provided legislative counsel, political strategy and issue-oriented research. Previously, he held the position of senior legislative aide to Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman of New York, during Mr. Gilman’s tenure as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Adesnik hold a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from Emory University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law.
Jason Hill
Associate Vice President, Stanford Health Care Government Affairs
(202) 714-6731
jjhill1@stanford.edu
Jason Hill focuses on Stanford Health Care’s (SHC) government affairs efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. His engagement prioritizes coordination, relationship building and advancing policy priorities of SHC in Washington D.C., Sacramento and in the counties in which SHC serves.
Hill joined Stanford from Kaiser Permanente where he worked as the federal lobbyist for the Permanente Federation, the organization representing the national Permanente Medical Groups. Prior to that, Hill spent 20 years in Washington D.C. working in and out of government including stints at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Senate and in the federal corporate office of Walmart Inc.
Hill holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis.
Kelly Kline
Associate Vice President, Government Affairs
(650) 725-3329
khkline@stanford.edu
Kelly Kline serves as a key point of connection between Stanford University and legislative and regulatory bodies in the region. She is responsible for day-to-day management and relationship building with partners and policymakers at the city and county level.
Kline has spent her career in the public sector working in the cities of San José, Cupertino, and Fremont. She has been immersed in South Bay politics and Economic Development during formative years for the region, creating public-private partnerships that enhance Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem, sustainable development and solutions to civic challenges.
Kline most recently served as chief economic development and land use officer for San José Mayor Sam Liccardo. She holds a BA degree in Political Science and Journalism from San José State University (SJSU) and a Master’s in Public Administration from SJSU.
Megan Arleth
Assistant Vice President, Federal Relations
(202) 760-3182
marleth@stanford.edu
Megan Arleth supports Stanford’s federal government affairs efforts and plays a leading role in developing and advancing the university’s policy priorities with Congress and the Executive Branch agencies. She also assists with the day-to-day management and coordination of the university’s activities and relationships with federal policymakers. She is based in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining Stanford, Arleth was the Director of Public Issues for the Consortium on Financing Higher Education, where she monitored federal policy activity on a wide range of issues that impact private colleges and universities. She also previously worked in the federal relations offices at Rutgers and Harvard.
Arleth holds a BA degree in Political Science and Journalism from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and a Masters degree in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Lucy Wicks
Assistant Vice President, Government Affairs
(650) 725-3339
lwicks@stanford.edu
Lucy Wicks acts as a liaison between Stanford University and government officials, policy and community-based organizations, businesses, and neighbors. Through this position she focuses on public policy initiatives and maintains strong relationships with government officials and community leaders to support dialogue and coordination about the university priorities, activities, and its resources. These relationships also enable Wicks to inform and advise the university about the needs and interests of the community and of cities surrounding the university.
Previous to joining Stanford in 2008, Wicks worked as the Livable Communities Coordinator for Alameda County Board of Supervisors, District 4, where she led a community-wide strategic planning process to expand service delivery to underserved populations, increase local civic involvement and improve the livability of the area. She also worked in the areas of land use, transportation, and public health policy.
Erika Bustamante
Assistant Vice President, State Government Affairs
(650) 725-3324
erikab@stanford.edu
Erika Bustamante focuses on the day-to-day management and coordination of the university’s activities and relationships with state governmental bodies related to regulatory and legislative issues impacting the university’s mission. Previous to joining Stanford, Bustamante worked in the capacity of Legislative Director for Assembly Member Luis Alejo in the California State Assembly. She was also a 2012 California Science and Technology Policy Fellow.
Bustamante holds a BS in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Stanford University.
Shweta Bhatnagar
Senior Director, Government Affairs
(650) 723-4708
shwetab@stanford.edu
Shweta Bhatnagar helps to advance Stanford’s legislative and local policy initiatives as they relate to the university’s educational and research mission. She has extensive experience in government and legislative affairs and maintains strong relationships with government officials, community-based organizations, businesses, and neighborhood associations to support the University’s priorities and activities. Prior to joining Stanford, Bhatnagar was the Government and Community Relations Manager at the San Mateo County Transit District, representing SamTrans, Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.
Bhatnagar holds a BA degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Masters in Public Administration from George Washington University.
Jennifer Torai MUP, MSW
Director, Stanford Health Care Government Affairs
(650) 250-2440
jtorai@stanford.edu
Jennifer Torai handles Stanford Health Care’s government affairs initiatives primarily at the local government level and manages relationships in counties and municipalities in which SHC operates.
Prior to this role, she worked with various Bay Area community-based organizations. Torai is a former member of the Bay Area Regional Advisory Committee for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, has been an adjunct professor for San Jose State University’s School of Social Work, is a former Co-Chair of the Asian/Pacific Islander Social Work Council of Northern California, and a former Co-President of the Urban Planning Coalition at San Jose State University.
Torai is a co-founder and active member of Asian Women Empowered - a community group that fosters civic engagement and leadership in Silicon Valley. Torai holds a BS degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds a Master’s in both Urban and Regional Planning and Social Work from San Jose State University.
Victoria Ramirez
Director of State and Local Government Affairs
(650) 374-8729
vsramirez@stanford.edu
Victoria Ramirez supports state and local government affairs for Stanford Health Care with a focus on maintaining local relationships in areas in which SHC serves.
Victoria joined Stanford from The Health Trust, where she led advocacy and communications strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic as Director of Policy and Communications. Prior to The Health Trust, Victoria served in several nonprofit roles supporting economic and workforce policy, as well as local, regional, and federal immigration communications strategies.
She holds a B.S. in Public Relations with a focus on Mexican American Studies from San Jose State University and M.A. in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
Katherine Pantangco
Assistant Director, Stanford Health Care Government Affairs
(650) 313-0450
kpantangco@stanford.edu
Katherine Pantangco focuses on federal and state matters for Stanford Health Care. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Katherine was formerly an Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and a Policy Advisor where she was a liaison between the White House and state and local elected officials on immigration, border issues, and other Administration priorities. Katherine formerly served as Deputy Director of Immigration Services for then-U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris where she handled immigrant affairs and assisted Californians on federal issues. Previously, Katherine worked in various capacities focused on criminal justice reform and immigration advocacy at the ACLU of Northern California.
She was raised in the South Bay and graduated magna cum laude from the University of San Francisco where she earned a B.A. Sociology. In April 2022, she was named one of Public Policy and International Affairs’ 40 Alumni Changemakers.
Joanna Jeffs
Events Manager, Government Affairs & Community Engagement
(650) 723-7455
jojeffs@stanford.edu
Joanna works with both the Office of Community Engagement and the Office of Government Affairs to support program and operational needs. She coordinates and manages community engagement events and projects. This involves engaging with local non-profits, and developing exposure opportunities and events that build relationships and share information about mutual regional challenges. Joanna joined the Office of Government Affairs in 2017. Prior to Stanford, Joanna worked in human resources management specializing in learning & development and was a police officer in the Metropolitan Police, London, UK.
Joanna is currently serving as the VP Leadership for the 17th District PTA (San Mateo County).
Joanna holds a PQS in Human Resources Management from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, UK, and a certificate in Post Compulsory Education & Training, from the University of Greenwich, UK
Millie McKean
Executive Assistant, Stanford Health Care Government Affairs
(650) 724-1831
mmckean@stanford.edu
Millie McKean provides administrative support for the University’s Government Affairs team that handles matters for Stanford Health Care (SHC). She has managed the administrative needs of the Government and Community Relations team at SHC since 2015, which included the coordination of logistics for Nurses’ Legislative Day, the Community Fellows Program, and the Community Benefit program. McKean continues to maintain strong relationships throughout the SHC community, and deeply understands the value of partnership.
Prior to joining Stanford, McKean supported executives and leaders at some of the top law firms in Silicon Valley. McKean is also the founder and owner of Ki’s Kloset, a gender-neutral children’s clothing company and she is a proud activist and community leader in her hometown, East Palo Alto, CA.
Aubra Pricolo
Executive Assistant to Ryan Adesnik, Government Affairs; and Megan Swezey Fogarty, Community Engagement
(949) 683-9810
aubra@stanford.edu
Aubra is the Executive Assistant for the Vice President for Office of Government Affairs and the Senior Associate Vice President for Community Engagement. Aubra manages complex calendars and is a key contact for the community and campus hubs. She manages casework and collaborates with colleagues on the development, planning and coordination of exposure events. Previously, Aubra worked in the SU Talent Acquisition Team hiring and building a dynamic and driven team in External Relations.
Prior to joining Stanford, Aubra worked in recruitment at several Silicon Valley technology companies; Samsara, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Through talent experiences, Aubra has gained an understanding of the region and the diverse networks the Bay Area has to offer.
Aubra has also worked as a behavioral therapist specializing in children with Autism and in restaurant management. Aubra holds a BA in Behavioral Science and Sociology from San Jose State University.
Jenevieve Mejia
Administrative Associate
(650) 725-3320
jenmejia@stanford.edu
Jenevieve Mejia provides Administrative support to the Office of Government Affairs and University Communications. Prior to joining Stanford, Mejia worked on the Autopilot team at Tesla. Mejia has had various internships including working on the San Francisco 49ers non-profit fundraising team for the 2019-2020 season and creating original content for San Jose State University’s Communication Studies Youtube page.
Mejia holds an AA-T in Communication Studies from the College of San Mateo and a BA in Communication Studies with a concentration in New Media from San José State University.