The Office of Government Affairs reports to the vice president for communications and government affairs, Gadi Dechter.

Julie Groeninger joined Princeton University's Washington, D.C. office in June 2011.   Julie previously served as a legislative assistant for the late New Jersey Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, working on issues related to education, immigration, housing, and campaign finance.  She has also worked for Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. 

During her time at Princeton, Julie has taken on a number of leadership roles, including chair of the Council on Federal Relations at the Association of American Universities (AAU); chair of the AAU Task Force on Immigration; chair of the Task Force on Innovation, and co-chair of the Energy Sciences Coalition. She served as Associate Director and then Director of Government Affairs from May, 2011 to March, 2024, until her promotion to Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs in April 2024. 

Julie is a past recipient of the President’s Achievement Award, one of Princeton University’s highest honors. She has also received the “Ripple Effect Award” from AAU in recognition of her public service contributions to the higher education community, and was named a “Rising Star” by the Women’s Campaign Forum “Hill’s Got Talent” program. 

Julie graduated from Hope College with degrees in history and political science.

Contact Julie: [email protected]

David Bagby joined Princeton University’s Washington, D.C. office as Director of Government Affairs in April 2024.  Prior to joining Princeton, David served as Director of Federal Relations for the University of Wisconsin-Madison following almost 14 years on Capitol Hill.

Before working for institutions of higher education, David served four Members of the U.S. House of Representatives as either Legislative Director or Deputy Chief of Staff.  He staffed Members on the House Education and the Workforce Committee (including the Ranking Member of the Higher Education Subcommittee), the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee (including a Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee), and the House Appropriations Committee.

He holds an Honors A.B. in Political Science from Rollins College, an M.Phil. in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford, and a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

Contact David: [email protected]

Aaron McClendon joined Princeton University's Washington, D.C. office in March 2020 after working as a public affairs coordinator for a lobbying firm in New York City. He worked on community event planning and relationship building with state legislators throughout the Northeast. He also interned for U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ) through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and worked on community relations and government affairs initiatives for multiple advocacy and non-profit organizations in Philadelphia.

He has served as chair of the AAU’s Task Force on Humanities, and as Secretary of the Board of Directors for The Science Coalition.

Aaron graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.A. in English Language and Literature and a dual minor in Political Science and Legal Studies, and earned his Masters’ in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Contact Aaron:  [email protected]

Brenda joined Princeton University's Washington, D.C. office in December 2022 after almost 15 years with Georgetown University and almost a decade at Howard University, where she ultimately served as Administrative Officer for the Controller of the University. 

Brenda graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Liberal Studies and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Princeton Theological Seminary

Contact Brenda: [email protected]