The Office of Government & Community Relations at Washington University in St. Louis serves as the nexus for university relationships with governmental officials, neighborhood associations, as well as civic leaders and organizations.

St. Louis

From working with local, state and federal representatives to connecting community members to appropriate university resources, the staff of the Office of Government & Community Relations promotes positive university engagement with its various constituencies.

We welcome you to explore the site to learn more about how the university is engaged in the community and how to connect with us in a meaningful way.

Please contact Ellie Spitzfaden at 314-935-5752 if you have any questions.


Economic and Community Impact Fiscal Year 2023

A Commitment to St. Louis

At Washington University in St. Louis, we are “in St. Louis, for St. Louis.” Our university provides good jobs, invests in construction, delivers world-class medical care, offers an exceptional education to talented students regardless of their ability to pay and conducts vital research that benefits us all. We are proud to partner with school districts and other civic organizations to meet our region’s biggest challenges.

Learn more​ about Washington University’s Economic Impact on the St. Louis Region.


Neighbor News Archive

Neighbor News is a digital newsletter published by the Office of Government and Community Relations as part of the university’s commitment to share information with the communities neighboring the Danforth Campus. Click below to see previous issues. To join our mailing list, click here.

Recent News

Making the case for WashU

A Q&A with J.D. Burton, vice chancellor for government relations, who leads the team responsible for representing the university at all levels of government.

Washington University and Deerfield Management launch VeritaScience to drive drug discovery

Deerfield makes 10-year commitment of up to $130 million to accelerate translation of WashU discoveries to improve human health.

A Reboot for Rural Recruitment

Washington University in St. Louis is increasing outreach to rural high schools in Missouri and southern Illinois to help diversify the student body.

2023 Top 10 Colleges for Financial Aid

With college affordability now the No. 1 concern among students and their families, a new ranking determines which schools are giving out the most financial aid to offset the cost. Washington University in St. Louis claimed the top spot.

University impact demonstrated with new St. Louis initiatives inventory

A new online tool from WashU’s St. Louis Initiatives team showcases the university’s research and programmatic commitments to the city and region.