Our Staff
Vice President
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 holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from Emory University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law.
Federal Government Affairs
Megan Arleth
Associate Vice President, Federal Relations
(202) 760-3182
marleth@stanford.edu
Megan Arleth is the Associate Vice President of Federal Government Affairs and leads Stanford's federal relations office in Washington, DC. She directs and coordinates Stanford's engagement with federal policymakers in Congress and the Executive Branch, shaping and advancing the university's policy priorities on issues critical to research, education, and innovation.
Prior to joining Stanford, Megan served as Director of Public Issues for the Consortium on Financing Higher Education. She has also held federal relations positions at Rutgers University and Harvard University.
With more than two decades of experience in higher education policy and advocacy, Megan is widely recognized as a leader in the higher education advocacy community. In 2023, she was presented with the Association of American Universities (AAU) Council on Federal Relations Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to AAU’s federal relations community. She currently serves on the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Board of Directors, and has previously served on the AAU Council on Federal Relations Steering Committee and as Chair of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Council on Government Affairs.
Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism from Rutgers University, and a Master of Science in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Camille Hosman
Director, Federal Government Affairs
chosman@stanford.edu
Camille Hosman is the Director of Federal Government Affairs and is based in Washington, DC. She supports Stanford’s engagement with federal policymakers, advancing the university’s advocacy priorities, with a particular focus on federal scientific research, education, and immigration policies, as well as issues related to critical and emerging technologies.
Before coming to Stanford, Camille served as the Associate Director for Federal Government Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania, led government relations for the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), and worked for the University of Missouri System Office of Government Relations.
Camille is deeply engaged in the federal research and higher education advocacy community. She currently chairs the Association of American Universities (AAU) Council on Federal Relations Innovation Task Force, coordinating advocacy efforts for the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. In 2023, the AAU Council on Federal Relations honored Camille with the New Innovator Award, an award for council members who have served fewer than five years and made significant contributions to the AAU federal relations community. She has also served on the Board of Directors for The Science Coalition.
Camille holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri and a Master of Law from the University of Pennsylvania. Camille serves on the Board of Advisors for the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Missouri.
Susannah Howieson
Senior Director, Federal Laboratory Government Affairs
(202) 760-3210
showieso@stanford.edu
Susannah V. Howieson serves as Senior Director, Federal Laboratory Government Affairs, where she leads federal government relations for SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, advancing the laboratory’s priorities with Congress, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, and other stakeholders.
Susannah brings more than fifteen years of experience in federal science and technology policy, with deep expertise spanning basic and applied energy research, DOE Laboratories, and nuclear security. Prior to joining Stanford, she was a Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates, where she advised universities, DOE Laboratories, and research organizations on federal science policy, appropriations, and interagency strategy across the energy, defense, and innovation portfolios.
Previously, Howieson served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, where she led strategic planning, interagency coordination, and laboratory infrastructure initiatives. Earlier in her career, she conducted science and technology policy analysis at the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute, supporting the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and federal agencies on research management, national security, and laboratory effectiveness, including co-leading the research team for the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories (CRENEL).
Howieson holds a BA from Rice University, a JD cum laude from Boston University, and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University. She is based in Washington, DC.
State Government Affairs
Erika Bustamante
Associate Vice President, State Government Affairs
(310) 963-3834
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.
Local Government Affairs
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’s public sector career spanned 30 years in the cities of San José, Cupertino, and Fremont in economic development roles that emphasized public-private partnerships to enhance Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem, sustainable development and solutions to civic challenges. Most recently, she served as chief economic development and land use officer for former San José Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Kline holds a BA degree in Political Science and Journalism from San José State University (SJSU) and a Master’s in Public Administration from SJSU. She serves on the Board of Directors for Notre Dame San José and the Community Advisory Board of SPUR.
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.
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.
Maya Perkins
Executive Director of Stakeholder Relations, Government Affairs
(650) 507-6232
perkinsm@stanford.edu
Maya Perkins is a relationship builder who has worked in the public and private sectors. Most recently, she worked as a tech leader at Meta (formerly known as Facebook) where she spearheaded engagement efforts and pioneered new ways to advance governance. While there, she secured internal and external support for projects, including the mixed-use Willow Village development, and Meta’s $1B global housing investment. Before Meta, Maya was the inaugural Executive Director of Bay Area Forward leading community members concerned about housing and transportation. Previously, Maya spent ten years serving the County of San Mateo as a legislative aide and management analyst advising County executives on policy matters.
Maya holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Mount Holyoke where she was awarded the Mary Lyon Student Leadership and Community Service Award. She also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law where she was awarded the Witkin Award for Excellence in Criminal Law and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Award for Social Justice.
Auggie Torres
Director, Local Government Affairs
(650) 497-8878
atorresj@stanford.edu
I am a Bay Area native. I was born in Redwood City and lived in East Palo Alto and Milpitas. My career has been a journey consisting of 15 years in the sports industry working with various organizations, including the San Jose Earthquakes. The last 10 years have been spent at Meta/Facebook, where I worked in Facilities and Local Policy/Community Engagement. Outside of work, I work on nonprofit boards for organizations focused on College Access and Youth Leadership Development. I also coach my daughter’s Softball and Soccer teams.
Chenelle Turner
Administrative Associate
cturne55@stanford.edu
Stanford Health Care Government and Community Affairs
Jason Hill
Associate Vice President, Stanford Health Care Chief Government and Community Affairs Officer
(202) 714-6731
jjhill1@stanford.edu
Jason Hill focuses on Stanford Health Care’s (SHC) government and community 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.
Hill acts as Advisory Board Member, Carl Levin Center for Oversight & Democracy and Board Member, Boys & Girls Club of Alameda.
Stanford Health Care Local Government and Community Affairs
Jennifer Torai MUP, MSW
Senior Director of Local Government Affairs, Stanford Health Care Government Affairs and Community 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.
Christie Stephanie Ochoa
Assistant Director of Community Affairs, Stanford Health Care Community Affairs
(650) 374-9141
csochoa@stanford.edu
Christie S. Ochoa serves as the Assistant Director of Community Affairs at Stanford Health Care, where she is dedicated to strengthening and expanding relationships with local communities.
A Redwood City native and lifelong advocate for underserved populations, Christie brings a deep-rooted commitment to community connection and ten years of experience leading programs at the intersection of education, social services, and public health.
Prior to joining Stanford, Christie was a Program Manager at Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of San Mateo County, where she recruited and mentored volunteer advocates for youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. She also held leadership roles with the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula and Garfield Community School, where she designed and implemented inclusive programs that supported youth development, family engagement, and access to educational resources. She has successfully led cross-functional teams through high-stakes program escalations, policy implementation, and helped develop digital learning solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. All with a focus on community well-being and impact.
Christie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & History with a Minor in Spanish from Notre Dame de Namur University.
Antonio Isais
Assistant Director of East Bay Community Affairs, Stanford Health Care Community Affairs
(650) 698-4926
aisais@stanford.edu
Antonio R. Isais serves as the Assistant Director of Community Affairs for Stanford Health Care, leading efforts to build and strengthen partnerships with local governments and community leaders across the East Bay.
Prior to this role, he served in the Office of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, coordinating policy briefings and stakeholder engagement to advance the Mayor’s priorities. He previously served in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, where he managed external affairs across Northern California and supported statewide initiatives focused on public safety, behavioral health, and economic recovery.
Antonio serves on the Board of Directors of the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), a San Francisco nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity through housing, economic mobility, and leadership development. He holds an Associate in Arts in Political Science from Chabot College in Hayward and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of California, Riverside.
Stanford Health Care State and Local Government and Community Affairs
Victoria Ramirez
Director of State and Local Government Affairs, Stanford Health Care 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.
Stanford Health Care Federal Government and Community Affairs
Katherine Pantangco
Director of Federal and State Government Affairs, Stanford Health Care Government Affairs
kpantangco@stanford.edu
Katherine Pantangco focuses on federal and state matters for Stanford Health Care. She is based in Washington, D.C. She has formerly served in the White House, United States Senate, and 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.
Stanford Health Care Community Benefit
Jessica Arline
Senior Director, Stanford Health Care Community Health and Partnerships
(650) 709- 9680
jarline@stanford.edu
Jessica Arline leads community-based engagement and investments that advance strategic community health priorities for Stanford Health Care, in coordination with Stanford University and the School of Medicine.
Previous to joining Stanford, Arline worked for UCSF in government and community relations, managing the organization’s East Bay external affairs portfolio for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Arline has dedicated her career to building strong partnerships with non-profits, community-based organizations, and public and private sector stakeholders across the greater Bay Area.
Arline’s work is driven by a deep commitment to improving community health through education, health access, and workforce development programs. Arline holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles and a Master’s in Public Administration from San Jose State University.
Affiliations: Oakland City Commissioner, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth Board of Directors Member, Youth Alive!
Sharan Johal
Senior Program Manager, Stanford Health Care Community Health and Partnerships
(650) 542-1152
sjohal@stanford.edu
Sharan Johal works on Stanford Health Care’s triennial Community Health Needs Assessment and guides strategic, high-impact investments that seek to improve health outcomes and promote equity among our community’s most vulnerable populations.
Deeply rooted in the Sikh principle of seva, the sacred tradition of selfless service that calls her to serve with humility, compassion and a steadfast commitment to the greater good, she brings extensive experience in community health and philanthropy. Her expertise includes building cross-sector partnerships that align mission-driven goals with meaningful community impact. Previously, she held roles at El Camino Health in Mountain View and Kaiser Permanente in Cupertino, where she helped shape impactful programs responsive to local health needs.
Sharan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Resource Studies with an emphasis in Health Science and Policy Management from UC Berkeley. She also earned her Master of Public Health from San José State University.
Outside of work, Sharan enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places and cheering on the Cal Bears with her two young children, whose curiosity and compassion fuel her dedication to building a healthier, more equitable world.
Operations Team
Joanna Jeffs
Manager, Events and Community Engagement Projects
(650) 723-7455
jojeffs@stanford.edu
Joanna coordinates community engagement events and exposure projects, supporting the university’s engagement with neighborhoods, and non-profit and government agencies. 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
Administrative Team
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, Federal Government Affairs
(650) 725-3320
jenmejia@stanford.edu
Jenevieve Mejia provides Administrative support to the Office of Government Affairs. Prior to joining Stanford University, 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.
Chenelle Turner
Administrative Associate
cturne55@stanford.edu
Cristina Gonzalez
Executive Assistant & Project Manager, Stanford Health Care Office of Government and Community Affairs
Cristina Gonzalez is an Executive Assistant with over 15 years of experience in health care and tech.
She previously worked at El Camino Health, Amazon Lab126, Meta and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Cristina worked for the Government and Community Relations team at Stanford Health Care from 2012-2015 and is happy to be back under the Stanford umbrella!
Cristina is a Bay Area native that moved to Southern Nevada in 2024. She currently enjoys exploring the Las Vegas Valley with her two children and husband.