State Relations

Whether through traditional advocacy or general education, UC Irvine’s State Government Relations works to promote the university's mission and to monitor state-related legislative activity. Our team advocates for higher education, research funding, and other issues that are central to the university’s mission as an educational and research institution. 

By actively engaging with the state’s elected leadership and agency heads, we articulate UC Irvine’s important role in the state while serving the broader mission of education, research, and service. We highlight UC Irvine’s contributions to California’s workforce, innovations, and economy by sharing stories of the groundbreaking research and the rising next generation of new leaders that UC Irvine produces. 

Alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff serve as valuable “Anteater Advocates” in relating their experience as UC Irvine’s grassroots voice. Through their personal experiences and engagement in the legislative process, our advocates help bridge policy decisions to their real-world impacts. The State Government Relations team helps ensure that our advocates' voices and UC Irvine’s priorities remain visible to state decision-makers to further the university’s purpose to educate, further research, and serve the public for generations to come. 

For questions, please contact Kristin Vellandi, Director of State & Local Government Relations at kristin.vellandi@uci.edu, or P. Alberto Sandoval, Assistant Vice Chancellor, UC Irvine Community & Government Relations at p.alberto.sandoval@uci.edu.

State Delegation

Senate

Bob Archuleta
California State Senator, SD-30
Bob Archuleta
Steven Choi
California State Senator, SD-37
Steven Choi
Kelly Seyarto
California State Senator, SD-32
Kelly Seyarto
Tom Umberg
California State Senator, SD-34
Tom Umberg

State Assembly

Phillip Chen
California Assemblymember, AD-59
Phillip Chen
Laurie Davies
California Assemblymember, AD-74
Laurie Davies
Diane Dixon
California Assemblymember, AD-72
Diane Dixon
Cottie Petrie-Norris
California Assemblymember, AD-73
Cottie Petrie-Norris
Kate Sanchez
California Assemblymember, AD-71
Kate Sanchez
Sharon Quirk-Silva
California Assemblymember, AD-67
Sharon Quirk-Silva
Tri Ta
California Assemblymember, AD-70
Tri Ta
Avelino Valencia
California Assemblymember, AD-68
Avelino Valencia