Federal Relations

Positive federal government relations are vital to the growth of LMU and higher education. Lowering student loan interest rates and increasing financial aid through programs like the Pell Grant are some of the collaborative issues LMU undertakes with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

Students in LMU's 2009 summer ACCESS program received a visit from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who emphasized the importance of STEM careers.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters at Kente Graduation 2007.
Provost David Burcham, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and University President Robert B. Lawton, S.J., in Roybal-Allard's Washington office.
Alumnus and LMU Caucus Member, Mark Waier, Congressman Buck McKeon and Clarence Griffin at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Access DC trip.

Notable Alums of the University

• Former L.A. Deputy Mayor Arif Alikhan '93 was appointed to the Obama administration as assistant secretary for the Office of Policy Development in the Department of Homeland Security.
• Ollie Cantos '92, JD '97 has been a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice since April 2009. He is vice chairman of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and a member of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Disability Research at the U.S. Department of Education.
• The Honorable Tony Coelho '64 was U.S. House Majority Whip and served from 1978-1989 in the House of Representatives.
• The Honorable Bob Dornan '54 was elected in 1984, and represented California's 38th Congressional District in central Orange County until 1997. During his entire congressional career Dornan was elected in districts that were overwhelmingly Democrat.
• Gabriella Gomez '95 has been active working in Washington, D.C. staffing Chairman George Miller on the House Education and Labor Committee as Senior Policy Advisor. In March 2009, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Education as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs.
• Alejandro Mayorkas '85 was appointed to the Obama administration in May 2009 as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• The Honorable Nancy Pelosi became the first woman and first Californian to serve as the Speaker of the House. Pelosi is the mother of LMU alum Alexandra Pelosi ‘92, an accomplished journalist and documentary filmmaker.
• Rick Terrazas '92 works for Congressman Duncan Hunter as his District Chief of Staff.